(AP) — New funding for Nebraska property tax relief, water projects and state park renovations has cleared a key vote in the Legislature.
Lawmakers gave the state budget bill first-round approval on Tuesday with a 37-2 vote.
The vote came after some lawmakers tried unsuccessfully to remove individual spending items, including $2.5 million for bronze fountains at the Capitol and $60,000 in state membership dues for the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact.
The measure that won initial approval includes a $25 million annual increase in Nebraska’s property tax credit program, $17.5 million for deferred park maintenance and $32 million for water projects by the middle of next year.
Lawmakers still have to debate two other measures as part of the $7.8 billion, two-year budget.