Omaha City Council Public Hearing on 2026 Budget and CIP - August 13, 2025
Omaha City Council Public Hearing on 2026 Budget and Capital Improvement Program - August 13, 2025
The Omaha City Council held a public hearing on the proposed 2026 budget and capital improvement program on August 13, 2025, from 6:30 PM to 8:05 PM. The meeting was called to order with roll call (Festerson, Harding, Hug, Melton, Rowe, Mr. President) and procedural instructions. The hearing allowed citizens to provide input; no council deliberation occurred. The meeting adjourned with a 7-0 vote, continuing the budget review process.
Proponent Comments
- Trevor Towey (President, Omaha Professional Firefighters) supported the budget due to investments in firefighter cancer and health screenings, but noted missing additional staffing. He reported a 7.5% increase in call volumes over the past year versus a 2.7% staffing increase (18 firefighters via a SAFER grant). He requested funding for more training officers, fire investigators, and inspectors, citing annexation of 800+ homes and 3,500 residents without additional firefighters.
- Melissa Neuenfeld (Heel Omaha Street Medicine) advocated for $216,000 in city funding. She stated her organization's 100 volunteers provide over $1 million in in-kind labor annually, serving 1,700+ unique athletes in 2024 (projected 4,000+ in 2026). The grant would fund a community health worker, volunteer manager, and vehicle.
- Paul Feilman presented a proposal based on Denver's STAR program, suggesting a co-responder model with EMTs and mental health practitioners to divert 911 calls, reducing pressure on police and fire.
- Erin Porterfield (Heartland Workforce Solutions) supported the budget, noting the organization leverages city funds to attract additional federal and private grants.
Opponent Comments
- Sidney McNeil (teacher, North Omaha) opposed police funding increase, calling for more investment in affordable housing and council law to provide legal counsel for tenants facing eviction. She highlighted student needs and homelessness.
- Mariah Johnson cited data: crime decreased 21% in 2024. She referenced Chicago's summer jobs program (33% reduction in violent crime arrests) and Baltimore's group violence reduction strategy (34% drop in non-fatal shootings). She argued the police budget increase is not data-driven and called for investment in root causes.
- Doug Kagan (Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom) argued the budget increases property taxes due to a 5.8% valuation increase and 5.6% spending increase (vs. CPI 2.7%). He opposed city involvement in affordable housing, parking garages ($242 million), and cited concerns about TIF revenue shortfalls.
- Isabella Manhart (District 4) expressed concerns about mental health response: the police budget increases $27 million, but the behavioral health unit has only one email not monitored 24/7 and one mental health co-responder per precinct. She urged funding for a 24/7 mental health line and more co-responders.
- Steven Dickerson (District 5) noted parks funding increased only 0.46% and urged more investment for prevention and youth third spaces.
- Kira Britt highlighted racial disparities in OPD traffic stops (Black and Native American overrepresentation) and argued that Minneapolis spends only 9.5% of its budget on police vs. Omaha's over one-third. She called for accountability before increasing police funds.
- Jaden Perkins proposed reallocating 10% of the police budget ($3 million) to a mobile crisis response unit (modeled on CAHOOTS and STAR), youth employment, violence prevention, and affordable housing. He cited CAHOOTS saves $9 million/year, Denver STAR handled 1,400 calls at 1/3 cost, Camden reduced violent crime 42% over seven years.
- Christine Kramer (District 3) urged funding for food insecurity due to federal SNAP cuts affecting 250,000 people nationally; Nebraska has 3,000 refugees. She noted the Food Bank lost 515,000 meals and requested funding for local food pantries.
- Clarice Dombeck (Redress Movement) advocated for Right to Counsel for OHA tenants (estimated $1 million/year), citing studies showing cost savings and reduced evictions. She noted the program is recommended in the housing affordability action plan but unfunded.
- Jonathan Renteria (South Omaha) called for more resources in the human rights and relations department (currently 12 personnel) to address discrimination and support small/emerging businesses, particularly after immigration raids.
- Tyler Engel noted $300 million budgeted for parking garages and no funding for bike lanes, despite a goal of 100 new miles over 10 years. He urged multimodal transit and climate action funding.
- Kanetta Wainwright (person with lived homelessness experience) criticized TIF and LIHTC programs as ineffective, and noted the continuum of care received $16 million for homelessness but access points are non-functional.
- Many other speakers echoed similar themes: divert police funding to housing, mental health, youth programs, parks, and transparency.
Key Outcomes
- The public hearing concluded at 8:05 PM with a motion to adjourn passing 7-0.
- The budget review process continues; council members will consider testimony and may propose amendments before a final vote.
- No formal votes on budget amendments were taken during this hearing.
Meeting Transcript
The meeting to order at 6 30 now. Roll call. Hang on. Thank you. Festerson. Good one. Harding. Here. Hug. Melton. Rowe. Mr. President. Here. An affidavit.publication is on file, and a current copy of the Open Meeting Act is posted in a white binder on the East Wall of Legislative Chambers. Good evening and welcome to the public hearing for the 2026 City of Omaha budget and capital improvement program. I am pleased to see so many citizens here tonight willing to provide input on the recommended budget. Tonight's public hearing is conducted in accordance with the requirements of the city charter. To make tonight's proceedings as efficient as possible, we will follow procedures, procedures that have worked well in the past. Thank you. You must sign up to speak. Forums are available on the table outside of chambers or the city clerk's desk. Please submit completed forms to city clerk staff. The council president will call you to the podium. We ask that you speak for no more than three minutes. The light at the podium will turn yellow when you have one minute remaining in your time. Please summarize your comments at that point. When the light turns red, your time has expired. Please note that your comments must be on the budget or capital improvement program. Please submit written comments to the city clerk. They will be made part of the record. Council members welcome your calls and emails if you wish to discuss issues in greater detail. I will also note a copy of the finance director's budget presentation is available at this desk. If you would like a printed copy of the presentation, please come see City Clerk staff. After this public hearing, the budget review process continues. Any questions? Comment. Thank you. Thanks. Uh address for our company is 5105 South 37th Street. That's at Christie Heights in South Omaha. Um, I'm a proponent. Uh, wanted to come voice my support for the proposed budget as a proposed recipient of this program, allows us to help fund our program personnel. Uh, this last year we had 1,700 unique athletes that participated in our programs, soccer, basketball, baseball, mountain biking, uh, taekwondo. We have flag football coming up. Um, that number 2025 is already up above 1,700 unique participants. Uh, total registration, so we do have kids that do multiple sports, gonna be around 3,500 to 4,000. Uh, proposal goal for 2026 is well above 4,000 athletes. So uh none of that would be possible without the continued support from the city, uh growth in different areas of the community, uh, as well as addition of different sports and programs. So, again, just wanted to voice support for the budget.
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