A series of bond issues will be on the November general election ballot if approved by the Omaha City Council at its meeting July 30th. The general obligation bonds will not raise the city’s property tax levy, according to a press release from the mayor’s office. The bonds will pay for projects listed in the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) in six categories: public safety; public facilities; transportation; street preservation; parks and recreation; and sewer. Transportation bonds will total $80.9 million and include large road projects that are paid with federal funds but require a local match. The city uses bonds to pay the match. Examples of transportation projects to be paid with future bonds include: Fort Street improvements west of 120th Street; L Street viaduct at 38th Street; Saddle Creek & Dodge Street bridge replacement; Enterprise Park Roadway near 11th & Locust; and 180th Street widening between Harney and Arbor streets. Public facilities bonds will total $146...

Three Omaha metro area projects are receiving additional funding through the State of Nebraska’s “Shovel-Ready” program. During the pandemic, many projects throughout the state were delayed. In response, the Unicameral passed the Shovel-Ready Capital Recovery and Investment Act to assist nonprofit organizations with capital projects affected by the pandemic. The grant money totaled $115 million with $100 million coming from ARPA funds. This week, Governor Pillen announced that Omaha Performing Arts, Joslyn Art Museum and the Elkhorn Athletic Association will each received around $2 million to help complete projects. Omaha Performing Arts will use the funds on the downtown Tenaska Center for Arts Engagement, currently under construction on the east side of the Hollard Performing Arts Center. The $108 million, 3-story building will offer additional rehearsal, workshop and classroom spaces to accommodate expanding education and community engagement programs, which already serve more...