LINCOLN, Nebraska – The Lower Platte South Natural Resources District (LPSNRD) board of directors tentatively approved the second draft of the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget at its monthly meeting Wednesday, July 19th. The revised budget included $8 million in cuts from the first draft that was reviewed in June. Program and project expenditures are 63% of the $37.8 million balanced budget. The complete budget is available at LPSNRD.org/fy24.

The draft budget includes these major projects and programs:

• Deadmans Run Flood Reduction Project $5.9M
• Antelope Creek 40-Scott Repair Project $1.4M
• Landowner cost-share assistance for Surface Water Quality Practices (terrace systems, buffer strips, cover crops, etc.) $1.6M
• Groundwater protection, studies, monitoring, testing, mapping & best management practices $1.0M
• Stream Stability projects on Lynn Creek & Salt Creek $1.2M
• Prairie Corridor on Haines Branch Project $1.4M
• Stream stabilization and bridge protection on trail corridors $1.8M
• Salt Creek Levee repairs $2.5M
• Community Assistance Program $1.1M
• Salt Creek floodplain resiliency $500,000
• Flood control dam repairs and construction $800,000
• Saline Wetland Partnership projects $800,000
• MoPac East-Lied Connector trail evaluation $100,000

The property tax request is $10,514,822. The property tax levy is to be determined once property valuations are finalized, but it is anticipated that the levy will be decreased.

Board Treasurer Chelsea Johnson said, “I encourage the public to review the Lower Platte South NRD draft budget and provide comments at the public hearing on Aug. 9. NRD Staff and Board worked hard to put together a budget that is fiscally responsible and accomplishes the vital work of the NRD, including flood control and protecting our water quality.”

Public comments are welcome at a public hearing on the budget Wednesday, August 9th at 5:30 PM. Written comments may be submitted at the meetings, mailed to the LPSNRD, or emailed to nrd [at] lpsnrd.org. The board will give final consideration during the next regular meeting of the board, on August 16th at 7:00 PM.  The public hearing and board meeting will be held at the LPSNRD office, 3125 Portia Street, in Lincoln.

In other business the board:

• Approved an agreement with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, allowing $8.3M in funds approved by the state legislature to be reimbursed to the LPSNRD for the development of a connector trail between the MoPac East Trail near Elmwood to the Lied Platte River Bridge Trailhead near South Bend. No trail route has been determined. 
• Authorized the LPSNRD to partner with the City of Lincoln to work on purchasing a conservation easement from Audubon on the Boman property, south of Denton, as part of the Prairie Corridor on Haines Branch Project. The conservation easement would protect the 320 native prairie from acreage development and provide a route for an access trail.
• Approved a bid ($240,960) and construction observation ($37,740) for Lynn Creek stream stability project just north of 9th Street and Cornhusker Highway in Lincoln.
• Extended a research agreement with the University of Nebraska —Lincoln for continued analysis of the Deadmans Run flume model.
• Approved an amended agreement with Solidago Conservancy to change the annual funding commitment from the LPSNRD to Solidago Conservancy from $20,000 to $30,000.