Blight guidelines passed

Senators passed a bill March 27 that revises guidelines for the accounting of certain blighted properties.

LB1012, introduced by Ogallala Sen. Ken Schilz, permits cities to exempt redevelopment projects using formerly used defense sites when determining the amount of blighted land in their municipalities.

Currently, metropolitan, primary and first class cities cannot designate more than 35 percent of the city as blighted. Second class cities may not designate more than 50 percent of the city as blighted and villages may not designate more than 100 percent of the village as blighted.

The bill passed on a 43-0 vote.