Omaha, Nebraska
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Omaha is a city in U.S. state of Nebraska. It is one of 22 cities in the state.
[edit] Website evaluation
- Main article: Evaluation of Nebraska city websites
[edit] The good
- The current budget is posted.[1]
- Information on how to make an information request is available.[2]
- Council members and their phone numbers are listed. You can e-mail them through a form on the website.[3]
- Council meeting times and agendas are published online.[4] Videos and minutes are also archived.[5]
- Information on how to register as a lobbyist is available.[6]
- Bids are posted online.[7]
- Planning and zoning information is online.[8]
- Audits are posted online.[9]
- Department staff is listed with contact info.
[edit] The bad
- Membership to taxpayer-funded lobbying associations is not disclosed, nor is lobbying expenditures.
- Local tax information is not posted.
[edit] Budget
The city has a current deficit of $34 million, and the proposed budget of $70 million already included a $5.5 million cut.[10] Omaha mayor's new mayor, Jim Suttle,, defends raising taxes he said he would cut. He has proposed the following tax increases:[11]
- Wheel Tax Up 65%, on average $35 to $58 per car. The tax would raise $8.5 million.
- Restaurant Tax 4%, on food and drink. Raises $23.5 million.
- Property Tax Up 9.3%, on average $60 a year. Raises $12 million
300 people attended a town hall meeting to protest the proposed $44 million in new taxes, but Suttle maintained it is the only solution for the city.[12] Currently, four fire stations are considered being cut, terminating 54 firefighter positions.[10] City Council member Jean Stothert, has criticized Fire Chief McDonnell’s budget cutting plan is not acceptable. According to Stothert, “If Chief McDonnell’s best effort is a plan ‘that people will die’ I question his ability to manage his department and do what is best for the citizens of Omaha.”[13] Shortly after, Suttle announced that the deficit for the city shrunk to $7.6 million, but maintained that that the new taxes should be implemented.[14]
State Senator Abbie Cornett has proposed legislation, which would defeat the taxes, by not allowing a municipality to levy a tax people outside of its border.[15]
Support of the budget[16]
- Omaha Together One Community (OTOC)
- Aida Amoura of Forward Omaha
Oppose the budget
- Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce
- Alliance for the Private Sector
[edit] Elected officials
There is currently a recall effort for Mayor Jim Suttle, which was filed by the Mayor Suttle Recall Committee.[17]
[edit] Emergency services
[edit] Police contract
Omaha's City Council voted unanimously on May 18, 2010 to force over 1,000 retired police officers, firefighters, and civilian workers to pay for part of their health insurance. An attorney representing the unions of the workers who would be forced to pay for the health insurance is filing suit in U.S. District Court in Omaha. The lawyer, Mike Dowd, is asking for a temporary injunction to stop the ordinance from taking effect. Dowd says the contract with the Omaha Firefighters Union says, “The premiums shall be paid by the city.”[18] Before the vote, City Council members, Republican Jean Stothert and Democrats Chris Jerram and Ben Gray, said the city would be close to bankruptcy without the measure.[19]
The City is currently negotiating a new contract with the Omaha Police Union. The proposed contract could not be discussed with the public due to a gag order, and has been hotly contested by the city council who call the police contract the "biggest bill taxpayers get."[20] There has also been concerns about City Council President Garry Gernandt voting on the contract because he is a retired police officer, though lawyers have ruled there would be no conflict of interest.[21]
If the contract is approved, the City would owe the police pension fund $12.5 million in 2010 into the police pension fund, bringing the budget deficit up to $22.5 million.[22] Or the money could be owed in 2010, plus accrued interest.[22]
[edit] Union support
Terry Moore, President of the Omaha Federation of Labor, announced that 14 “key leaders of the Omaha business and labor communities” are supporting the contract.[23] 28 unions are part of the Omaha Federation of Labor, including the Omaha Firefighter's Union. The Federation was also found to have given significant campaign contributions during the past election, totally to $225,500.[23]
| Name | Contribution received |
|---|---|
| Suttle | $84,000 |
| Jerram | $31,000 |
| Gray | $25,000 |
| Gernandt | $5,500 |
| Stothert | $17,000 (independent expenditures) |
| Festersen | $8,000 |
| Thompson | $600 |
[edit] Firefighters
A recent examination of the fire department found payroll records and time sheet to be "unreliable."[24]
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ↑ Budget
- ↑ Information request
- ↑ Council Members
- ↑ Meeting Agendas
- ↑ Meeting journals and videos
- ↑ Lobbyist Registration
- ↑ Purchasing
- ↑ Planning and zoning
- ↑ Audits
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Nebraska Watchdog, Exclusive: Fire Stations on Omaha Budget Hit List, Aug. 4, 2010
- ↑ Nebraska Watchdog, Suttle’s Tax Hikes Get Mixed Review From Council, July 21, 2010
- ↑ Nebraska Watchdog, Suttle on Budget Fall-Out: “I’m ready to suffer any consequences", July 29, 2010
- ↑ Nebraska Watchdog, Exclusive: Omaha Fire Chief’s Competence Questioned, Aug. 4, 2010
- ↑ Nebraska Watchdog, City Hall Good News-Bad News: Budget Better-More Taxes Still Needed, Aug. 17, 2010
- ↑ Nebraska Watchdog, Lawmaker Looking to Derail Omaha’s New Taxes, Sept. 28, 2010
- ↑ Nebraska Watchdog, Mayor Suttle’s Budget and Police Deal Hit Hard, Aug. 10, 2010
- ↑ Nebraska Watchdog, Suttle Recallers Make it Official, Omaha Joins National List, Sept. 24, 2010
- ↑ "City Retirees Lose Council Vote, Lawsuit Next," Nebraska Watchdog, May 18, 2010
- ↑ "Council Comments on City’s “Bankruptcy”" Nebraska Watchdog, May 19, 2010
- ↑ Nebraska Watchdog, Omaha Police Deal Irks Council: Includes “Gag Order”, July 12, 2010
- ↑ Nebraska Watchdog, City Lawyers: No Conflict for Council President, State Ruling Next, July 23, 2010
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Nebraska Watchdog, Exclusive: Omaha Police Deal, Pay Now or Pay Later, Aug. 3, 2010
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Nebraska Watchdog, Exclusive: Push for Omaha Police Deal Has Ties to Campaign Cash, Aug. 16, 2010
- ↑ Nebraska Watchdog, Foley: Omaha’s Fire Payroll Records “Inadequate and Unreliable”, Oct. 28, 2010
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