Lincoln holds public hearing on mid‑biennium 2024–26 budget adjustments; residents urge more transit funding

The Lincoln City Council held a public hearing Aug. 18 on proposed mid‑biennium adjustments to the city’s 2024–26 operating budget and capital improvement program, hearing a staff presentation on revenue trends and proposed spending changes and receiving more than a dozen public comments focused largely on StarTran transit funding, pool repairs and broader affordability concerns.

City budget presenter John Carlson, speaking with members of the city’s finance and budget team, outlined five primary adjustments under consideration: an additional $936,000 for the police and fire pension; roughly $150,000 to fund pay incentives for 911 emergency dispatchers; one‑time funds to close an operating gap at StarTran; a proposed $1.5 million pool maintenance and repair fund; and incorporating debt service for the voter‑approved stormwater bond into the biennial budget. Carlson said the council would hold the formal vote on the ordinance and related resolutions on Aug. 25, after the public hearing record is closed.

Why it matters: the mid‑biennium adjustments would allocate a mix of ongoing and one‑time dollars toward pensions, public safety staffing, transit operations and aging neighborhood pools. City staff said some proposed funding would come from expected valuation increases and one‑time sales tax receipts; the council will decide whether to adopt those changes at a later meeting.

Staff presentation and proposed adjustments

John Carlson and the budget team described the city’s revenue picture and drivers for the requested changes. Carlson said sales tax remains the city’s single largest revenue source and noted the city saw an unusually large one‑time spike in sales tax…