Lincoln budget proposal keeps property tax rate flat while boosting safety

Lincoln’s proposed 2026-28 budget puts public safety and infrastructure at the center of city spending while keeping the property tax rate flat in the plan Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird announced June 8.

For homeowners, renters, business owners and commuters, the takeaway is straightforward: the city is trying to hold the tax rate steady while expanding service levels. The proposal is still under review, so nothing is final yet.

What the proposal includes

The budget would add 18 firefighter and firefighter-paramedic positions, a ninth ambulance medic unit and four additional police officers in year two. It also directs money toward downtown and infrastructure spending.

Those additions are aimed at safety and city upkeep, but they remain proposals until the City Council acts. The official budget calendar shows a public hearing on Aug. 3, 2026, and an adoption vote on Aug. 24, 2026.

That means Lincoln residents still have a chance to watch the process, raise concerns and see whether council members adjust the plan before the final vote.

Sources

• City of Lincoln 2026-28 City Council budget calendar (PDF)
• Nebraska Public Media report on Lincoln’s budget proposal