Lawmakers passed a $6.9 billion two-year budget package this session.
The 2009-11 budget proposed by the Appropriations Committee provides funds for state government operation and aid during the two-year period, an average annual spending growth rate of 1 percent.
Tight budget constraints due to decreased state revenues were somewhat eased by the receipt of $523 million in federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds and the use of $254 million from the state’s cash reserve fund.
Senators made few changes to the committee’s recommendations. Among the adjustments were an additional $283,000 appropriated to increase developmental disability provider rates and a temporary increase in certain judges’ retirement contribution rates combined with a $1 increase in court filing fees to address a shortfall in the judges’ retirement system.
LB315, the mainline budget bill, passed on a 46-2 vote.
Also included in the budget package are:
- LB311, providing for deficit appropriations;
- LB312, appropriating funds for state senators’ salaries;
- LB313, appropriating funds for constitutional officers’ salaries;
- LB314, appropriating funds for capital construction;
- LB316, providing for various transfers between funds;
- LB318, suspending certain depreciation charges assessed by the Department of Administrative Services;
- LB414, changing salary and retirement provisions for judges;
- LB456, transferring $254.4 million from the state’s cash reserve fund;
- LB629, disapproving claims against the state; and
- LB628, providing for payment of claims against the state, including a $3.6 million payment resulting from litigation in which the state was found at fault for a traffic accident and $600,000 to settle a claim made against the Department of Health and Human Services by a father whose daughter died while a resident at the Beatrice State Developmental Center.
Gov. Dave Heineman approved the budget package with no line-item vetoes.
Several other bills had public hearings but remain in committee.
Joint testimony was taken on two bills aimed at reducing the number of individuals on the waiting list to receive developmental disability services in Nebraska.
LB236, introduced by Omaha Sen. Steve Lathrop, would have appropriated $162.7 million over four years from the state’s general fund to provide services for those on the waiting list and past their date of need.
LB468, introduced by Wilber Sen. Russ Karpisek would have appropriated $62.6 million over two years for the same purpose. Both bills would have been matched by federal funds.
LB37, sponsored by Norfolk Sen. Mike Flood, would have appropriated $2.3 million from the state’s general fund to establish a division of the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Nursing at Northeast Community College in Norfolk.
LB572, sponsored by Elk Creek Sen. Lavon Heidemann, would have reduced to $1.5 million annual transfers to the state Tobacco Prevention and Control Cash Fund in an effort to increase the sustainability of the state’s Health Care Cash Fund.
LB492, sponsored by Malcolm Sen. Ken Haar, would have provided $3.5 million in transitional funding to UNL to create three new faculty positions focused on wind energy.
Lastly, LB359, introduced by Omaha Sen. John Nelson, would have changed the structure of fund distribution to the Cultural Preservation Endowment Fund, allowing it to receive up to $1 million annually over a four-year period based on matching funds raised by the Nebraska Arts Council.
