Omaha council scheduled to weigh streetcar financing, proposed $185M bond ballot measures

Omaha City Council’s July 28 agenda included streetcar and parking-garage bond financing, as well as two proposed general-obligation bond questions that could place up to $185 million in borrowing authority before voters in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

The proposed ballot measures were separate from the streetcar and parking-garage financing items. The agenda also included multiple development and rezoning requests.

Two proposed bond questions

One proposed question would authorize up to $155 million in general-obligation bonds for a broad group of city facilities and projects. The listed purposes included police facilities, fire stations, branch libraries, park-maintenance facilities, auditorium support facilities, arena and convention-center facilities, public-works storage, and citywide building renovations or replacements.

A separate proposed question would authorize up to $30 million for parks and recreation improvements.

Together, the two proposed questions total up to $185 million. That total describes the potential authorization in the ballot measures, not a single streetcar project or a combined streetcar-financing plan.

The agenda described the measures as proposed questions for the Nov. 3, 2026, general-election ballot. The available source material establishes that the council was scheduled to consider them, not that the measures were approved for the ballot or approved by voters.

Streetcar, development and public-safety items

Streetcar and parking-garage bond financing was also among the items scheduled for council consideration. The agenda included development and rezoning requests in addition to the financing matters.

The council was also scheduled to consider accepting a $60,000 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant from the Nebraska Crime Commission for an Omaha Police Department criminal-justice internship program.

The meeting was scheduled for 2 p.m. July 28, 2026, in the Legislative Chambers at 1819 Farnam Street.

What remains unresolved

The source packet does not provide council minutes or introduced ordinances showing final action on the financing, development, rezoning or proposed ballot measures. It also does not establish final bond language, financing costs or whether either proposed question ultimately reached the November ballot.

Those distinctions matter because the agenda set out potential authorizations and scheduled deliberations. Any final borrowing authority or ballot placement would depend on subsequent council action and, if placed on the ballot, the outcome of the general election.

Sources

• Omaha City Council to weigh streetcar bonds, TIF projects, Omaha World-Herald