Nebraska lawmakers have granted second-round approval to a bill that would give voters the option to set city sales tax rates as high as 2 percent, up from the current 1.5 percent maximum.
Lawmakers advanced a rewritten version of the bill Monday, 29-14.
The proposal was introduced by Omaha Senator Brad Ashford as a way to help cities pay for property tax relief, highway and bridge projects, and other needs.
The bill would require at least 70 percent approval from a city council or other local government before any proposed increase could appear on a local ballot. The city of Omaha would have use part of its increase to offset other taxes.
Ashford says the bill will give voters the opportunity to engage in local tax policy.
