Proposed 2021 Omaha City Budget

Luis E. Jimenez for NOISE

  • The All-Fund budget is approximately $1.2 billion.

  • The recommended budget for the 2021 General Fund budget is $493.3 million, an increase of 4.6% from 2020.

  • The proposed budget for the Omaha Police Department is $161.8 million, an increase of 1.2%.

The official proposed Omaha city budget; click image to visit www.cityofomaha.org for the proposed 2021budget (07/21/2021).

The official proposed Omaha city budget; click image to visit www.cityofomaha.org for the proposed 2021budget (07/21/2021).

Douglas County Sheriff's Deputies remove two protesters who interrupted Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert on July 22 during the budget presentation. CHRIS MACHIAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

Douglas County Sheriff's Deputies remove two protesters who interrupted Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert on July 22 during the budget presentation. CHRIS MACHIAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

IMPORTANT DATES

These are dates compiled to showcase the budget process for the City of Omaha. (NOTE: the abbreviation LOC stands for LOCATION; D/L stands for DEADLINE; Legislative Chambers is located at 1819 Farnam Street, LC2, Omaha, NE 68183; information on this page will be continually updated.)

  • ✅ Tuesday, July 21, 2:00 pm
    LOC: Legislative Chambers
    Mayor Jean Stothert delivered the proposed 2021 Budget to the City Council.

  • ✅ Wednesday, July 22, 9:00 - 11:30 am
    LOC: Civic Center, Jesse Lowe Room 3rd Floor (1819 Farnam Street)
    City Council reviewed health insurance plans, CIP (Community Improvement Projects), with an overview of the General Budget.

  • ✅ Tuesday, August 4, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
    LOC: Legislative Chambers
    City Council to meet for budget discussions.

  • ✅ Tuesday, August 11, 6:30 pm
    LOC: Legislative Chambers
    Public Hearing on budget and CIP. This is the public’s opportunity to be heard.

  • ✅ Wednesday, August 12, 1:00 pm
    D/L: Budget Resolutions Due

  • ▢ Tuesday, August 18, 2:00 pm
    LOC: Legislative Chambers
    City Council to adopt budget and capital improvement projects; community and public infrastructure. 

Quick Takes

Mayor Jean Stothert: “We will continue to appropriately fund our police department to provide community policing, training and emergency response services. Defunding the Omaha Police Department would be irresponsible and reckless and I won’t do it. Now more than ever, we need a well-funded, well-paid, well-trained, professional police department.” Read Stothert’s Facebook post on her proposed 2021 budget.

Omaha Abolition Research (OAR): “Between 2005 and 2018, the Omaha Police Department budget increased by 85.7%, while Omaha’s population only increased by 7.87%. Between the same years, violent crime was steadily dropping and already at an all-time low country wide.” Visit OAR Instagram @omahaabolition.

KETV, virtual channel 7: Stothert said the most significant increase in the 2021 budget is cost of the solid waste collection and recycling. The city's 20 year contract with Waste Management will expire. "The cost of solid waste collection will increase 44%, $10 million. The cost of waste management will increase from $22 million in 2020 to $31.9 million with the new company, FCC. Read more with video.

Omaha-World Herald: Stothert announced plans in June to update the department’s use of force policy and other efforts to beef up training, seek public input on officers’ actions and improve diversity within city government. Her proposed budget would fund some of those changes, and her proposal now goes to the City Council for review and approval. Read Protesters interrupt speech as Mayor Stothert says defunding police would be 'reckless'.

A protester stands up and asks Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert to defund the police during Tuesday's City Council meeting. CHRIS MACHIAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

A protester stands up and asks Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert to defund the police during Tuesday's City Council meeting. CHRIS MACHIAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

Culxr & Coins

Tuesday August 11 in the evening, the Omaha City Council will take public comment on the proposed city budget. Culxr House held a function for residents to gain critical insight into the details of the city budget and how to most effectively bring views to the Council. Click on the picture for the livestream video of the presentation.

Hosted by Culxr House, presentations by Omaha City chief of staff Jim Dowding, Omaha Abolition Research, and Dr. Erin Feichtinger (Community Outreach and Advocacy Director, Together Inc). This meeting was held Monday night (5:30PM) at Culxr House.

The Budget Council meeting is 6:30PM on Tuesday, August 11 at City Hall, 1819 Farnam Street.

To prepare community members to participate in the Aug 11th City Council meeting where testimony can be given about the proposed 2021 Omaha City Budget, Culxr House invited Omaha City Council chief of staff Jim Dowding, Omaha Abolition Research, and…

To prepare community members to participate in the Aug 11th City Council meeting where testimony can be given about the proposed 2021 Omaha City Budget, Culxr House invited Omaha City Council chief of staff Jim Dowding, Omaha Abolition Research, and Erin Feichtinger the Community Outreach and Advocacy Director of Together Inc., for an overview of the budget process.

Guest User