Grants awarded by civic center fund could increase

The maximum grants awarded by the Local Civic, Cultural and Convention Center Financing Fund could increase under a bill advanced from select file April 13.

The fund is supported by a turn-back of 30 percent of new state sales tax generated by arenas constructed under the Convention Center Facility Financing Assistance Act and the Sports Arena Facility Financing Assistance Act and retailers near the arenas. Grants from the fund are awarded to communities based on the project’s readiness, financial support and likelihood of attracting new activity to Nebraska.

LB297, introduced by Fullerton Sen. Annette Dubas, would rename the fund as the Civic and Community Center Financing Fund and change the purpose of the fund from supporting projects that attract new civic, cultural and convention activity from outside of Nebraska to supporting projects that foster maintenance or growth of communities.

The bill also would reduce the cash match required of local funds from 80 percent to 50 percent. In addition, current language prohibiting the use of fund assistance for planning would be eliminated and planning would be made a criterion for project selection.

As amended on general file, the bill would add libraries to the definition of civic centers.

Dubas offered an amendment on select file, adopted 29-0, to adjust the maximum grants awarded under the act if the balance of the fund would reach $2.5 million. Until the fund would recede below $1 million, the maximum grants for cities would be:

• $2.25 million instead of $1.5 million for primary class cities;
• $1.125 million instead of $750,000 for cities with a population between 40,000 and 100,000;
• $750,000 instead of $500,000 for cities with a population between 20,000 and 40,000;
• $600,000 instead of $400,000 for cities with a population between 10,000 and 20,000; and
• $375,000 instead of $250,000 for cities with a population less than 10,000.

Dubas said her amendment would provide a framework to offer more grants if revenues to the fund are increased by arenas planned in Lincoln and Ralston.

Senators also considered amendments by Norfolk Sen. Mike Flood to exempt libraries from matching funds required under the act, Omaha Sen. Burke Harr to include metropolitan class cities in the act and Lincoln Sen. Bill Avery to change the definition of civic center to civic and community project. All three senators withdrew their amendments.

LB297 advanced from select file on a voice vote.