Appropriation of Republican River repayments lowered, advanced

Reimbursement payments from Republican River natural resource districts (NRDs) would be dedicated to funding future water projects under a bill advanced from select file March 27.

LB950, as originally introduced by Imperial Sen. Mark Christensen, would have directed all future loan payments to be deposited into the Water Resources Cash Fund, where they would be granted for future water projects. The funds currently are directed to the Water Contingency Cash Fund.

Holdrege Sen. Tom Carlson supported the bill, saying the dedication of reimbursement payments for future water projects would benefit all Nebraskans.

“Thirty years ago, no one knew the water problems we were going to face,” Carlson said. “We want to do things that will ensure we have water generation after generation.”

An amendment introduced by Elk Creek Sen. Lavon Heidemann, adopted 31-0, would ensure reimbursement payments would be transferred from the general fund.

An amendment to Heidemann’s amendment, introduced by Christensen, would lower the amount of money to be transferred from the general fund from $10.5 million to $5.7 million in fiscal year 2012-13 and from $7.2 million to $2.4 million in subsequent years.

Christensen said he brought the amendment to be mindful of the state’s budget. The amendment was adopted on a 31-0 vote.

Senators advanced the bill to final reading by voice vote.