Budget issues have priority in Lincoln this year

Like most of us, Nebraska lawmakers will have to take a close look at the budget this year and make some hard choices.

While the state is expected to have cash reserves of $573 million by the end of the fiscal year, projected revenue declines could leave us $377 million in the hole without adding any new spending this year or next.

State Sen. Mark Christensen, beginning his third year, told the Imperial Republican that he hopes to continue funding for removal of vegetation in the Republican Basin and add the Platte, to the tune of $4 million.

That might be hard to come by this year, thanks not only to an expanded Health and Human Services budget -- perhaps because of pressure from last year's Safe Haven fiasco -- but to a proposed plan to cut state aid to schools by $60 million.

Christensen said he plans to introduce 20 or more bills this session including proposals to better utilize the Work Ethic Camp, to require a sonogram before an abortion, to require education before marriage, allow county roadside trapping, create pre-zoned areas for livestock expansion and tweaks to the concealed-carry gun law.

Depending on when and how the Supreme Court rules on challenges to LB701, the senator may make proposed changes to the law his priority bill.

He told the paper that removing a bonding clause in LB701, requiring Natural Resources Districts to buy bonds for projects to enhance stream flows, would allow the NRDs to use property and occupations now held in escrow to repay the state. Christensen said he would like to see that money put into a revolving loan fund to cover water projects in fully- and over-appropriated basins.

The Republican River issue will continue to be a priority for Southwest Nebraska, but, depending on results of the latest court challenges and the changing economy, lawmakers may be tempted to fund other priorities first. That is likely to only prove more costly to the state in the long run.