Mayor Jean Stothert Announces Support of $200 million Transportation Bond
By Ana Bellinghausen
Mayor Jean Stothert announced at a press conference on Jan. 23 her support for a $200 million bond that would allow funding for long-term pavement rehabilitation and reconstruction throughout Omaha, NE.
The Omaha City Council will need to approve the bond so it can appear on the primary ballot this May to be approved by tax-payer support. The bond would raise taxes about $35 per year for an average homeowner, but Stothert is leaving it up to voters to decide if it’s worth the raise or not.
“Better, safer roads are an important part of the tax paying experience,” Stothert said. “I’m strongly convinced this is the best way for the city to move forward.”
Stothert noted how the condition of the streets are an issue for the city and is something she pushed to improve since beginning in office. If the bond passes, road rehabilitation can begin as early as this year.
“We need to do more,” Stother said. “Our streets have been underfunded for at least 50 years”.
An analysis by independent engineering experts in 2019 found that the city should be spending $75 million annually on road reconstruction and currently only spends $41 million. Last year, the city spent $13 million alone on pothole repair.
“We are wasting taxpayer money with what we’re doing right now,” Stothert said. “This is about long-term rehabilitation”
Instead of just filling potholes, Stothert calls for the long overdue reconstruction of city streets. At townhall meetings, the mayor noted that the issue most taxpayers point to is “potholes, potholes, and potholes”.
The $200 million bond is renewable every five years with a reissuance. If voters approve, every lane mile in Omaha could be resurfaced within the next 20 years. Stothert finds it important that it does get approved each term.
“Omaha is a thriving city with an exciting future,” Stothert said. “Our infrastructure needs to match that.”
Follow up questions:
- What are the long-term benefits of this bond for tax payers?
- Was last winter and spring the breaking point to implement this bond?
- How long have citizens been pushing you for this to happen?
- How does Omaha’s infrastructure compare to surrounding cities?
- With the MLB Draft, CWS, Olympic Swim Trials and more high caliber events coming to metro-area…would our roads be ready by then to accommodate those events and their traffic?
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