Advocating for Lincoln

Forty-one years ago when LIBA was founded, a group of local business owners wanted to make sure small businesses had a voice when it comes to local issues, which have an impact on our local business owners and the community. To this day, we continue to be your advocate and voice for small business. We continue to take on issues at the local, state, and federal levels to help business owners.

Over the course of the summer, we have been involved in some issues where we have made an impact while helping our business owners and the community. During our budget evaluations, LIBA held discussions with Lincoln Public Schools about their budget plans and hosted a budget presentation by LPS for our members in July. During our meetings, one thing we asked was for them to consider reducing the bond levy on our property taxes. Because of bond payments schedules and rising property valuations, LPS agreed to decrease their bond levy this year, ultimately saving money for business owners and citizens because of the large valuation increases.

Earlier in the summer the Lincoln City Council was taking up an ordinance on “short-term” rental properties. These are properties which are rented for short time periods, traditionally for less than a month. Some people use these on vacation while others may use them when traveling for business. Property owners will rent out their property and while people are traveling, they have more of an “at home” feeling. The Council was considering a restriction on the proximity in which two property owners may offer these “short-term” rentals. In our testimony, LIBA suggested the Council use caution when addressing the ordinance in front of them.

Primarily there is a state statute which may have put the City in violation had they adopted the ordinance as written. Along with several property owners who showed up, the Council amended the ordinance as presented to them to remove this restrictive language. I was pleased to see the citizens who showed up to testify at the Council meeting. I often advocate for the citizens to be watchful and to show up to offer perspective to the members of the Council.

We need to continue to pay attention to what is happening at all levels of government and share our voices.

Through the budget discussions with committees at LIBA, we have been reviewing the budgets for the City and County and continue to raise questions. We are submitting letters and testimony regarding both of their budgets. For instance, the City’s bond property tax levy is going down, while raising the general fund levy and there is a significant projected increase in sales tax revenue. Our questions will focus on where the increases in the budget will exist and how that will impact our members. At the County, we have and will continue to advocate for infrastructure investments.

Make sure to continue to be involved and watch our political subdivisions. We can make a difference.

LIBA studies and promotes these types of issues that are important to businesses and our community. If you have an interest in joining, please call LIBA at (402) 466-3419. LIBA membership is not restricted to just businesses. We also have “individual” memberships for those who want to help influence our local government decisions.