Politics & Government
Nebraksa Bill Would Require Public Vote Before Districts Could Use ‘Work Around' To Finance New Schools
"If you're going to put people in debt, people should have the right to vote 'yes' or 'no,' " said State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan.
By Paul Hammel
February 22, 2023
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LINCOLN — Voters would have to approve agreements to finance new schools via little-used interlocal agreements under a legislative bill given first-round approval Wednesday.
State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn said Legislative Bill 299 would close a “loophole” in state law that allows financing of new school construction without a public vote.
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“If you’re going to put people in debt, people should have the right to vote ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ ” Linehan said.
She cited a recent case in Beatrice, where voters twice rejected bond issues to build one new elementary school to replace four aging neighborhood elementary schools.
The local school board, however, approved construction of a $43 million elementary school through another route, by joining with Educational Service Unit 5 to secure a loan to finance the building project.
Such an interlocal agreement does not require a public vote, which Linehan described as a “workaround” from the typically required school bond elections to approve new construction projects.
State Sen. Myron Dorn of Adams, who represents the Beatrice area, supported the bill, saying many local residents were upset that the construction project moved forward without voter approval.
LB 299 advanced from first-round debate on a 38-0 vote.
Ground was broken on the new Beatrice school in September, according to Lincoln television station 10/11. Dorn said it will replace four school buildings that are 50 to 70 years old.
The senator said at least two other school districts in Nebraska have used interlocal agreements to build new facilities.
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