Lawmakers override Ricketts' veto of bill expanding Omaha metro area bus service

Regional Transit Authority for Omaha area. On the final day of the 2019 session, senators overrode Gov. Pete Ricketts’ veto of bill that would allow the formation of a regional transit authority in metropolitan Omaha.

Ricketts had vetoed the transit authority measure, Legislative Bill 492, calling it a potentially “incredible” property tax increase of up to $17 million for residents of the metropolitan area.

The bill, introduced by State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha, would allow the Metropolitan Area Transit (MAT) board to vote to form a regional transit authority, which would have its own elected board and be allowed to levy property taxes of up to 10 cents per $100 of property valuation.

Right now, MAT has an appointed board and can levy only as much taxes as approved by the City of Omaha and Douglas County — currently a levy of 5.6 cents. And that tax levy must fall within the levy limits imposed on cities and counties.

Read more: https://www.omaha.com/news/legislature/capitol-digest-lawmakers-override-ricketts-veto-of-bill-expanding-omaha/article_e27f504f-3111-59b3-91ba-7b9a99b4985c.html