LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Gov. Pete Ricketts is praising the Nebraska Legislature’s decision to end a common tax levy for 11 school districts in and around Omaha.

Ricketts signed a bill Tuesday to get rid of the controversial common levy, starting in 2017, and sever the financial ties among the 11 districts, while increasing state support for them.

Ricketts says the bill allows Omaha schools to focus their resources on quality education within their districts instead of sending their property tax dollars to fund other schools.

The bill would maintain the Learning Community structure and its programs, including two elementary learning centers and several early childhood education programs. It would require the districts to work together to raise educational achievement among all metro-area students.

The bill is LB 1067.