XIII-2. Industrial and economic development; powers of counties and municipalities.

Notwithstanding any other provision in the Constitution, the Legislature may authorize any county or incorporated city or village, including cities operating under home rule charters, to acquire, own, develop, and lease real and personal property suitable for use by manufacturing or industrial enterprises and to issue revenue bonds for the purpose of defraying the cost of acquiring and developing such property by construction, purchase, or otherwise. The Legislature may also authorize such county, city, or village to acquire, own, develop, and lease real and personal property suitable for use by enterprises as determined by law if such property is located in blighted areas as determined by law and to issue revenue bonds for the purpose of defraying the cost of acquiring and developing or financing such property by construction, purchase, or otherwise. Such bonds shall not become general obligation bonds of the governmental subdivision by which such bonds are issued. Any real or personal property acquired, owned, developed, or used by any such county, city, or village pursuant to this section shall be subject to taxation to the same extent as private property during the time it is leased to or held by private interests, notwithstanding the provisions of Article VIII, section 2, of the Constitution. The acquiring, owning, developing, and leasing of such property shall be deemed for a public purpose, but the governmental subdivision shall not have the right to acquire such property by condemnation. The principal of and interest on any bonds issued may be secured by a pledge of the lease and the revenue therefrom and by mortgage upon such property. No such governmental subdivision shall have the power to operate any such property as a business or in any manner except as the lessor thereof.

Notwithstanding any other provision in the Constitution, the Legislature may also authorize any incorporated city or village, including cities operating under home rule charters, to appropriate such funds as may be deemed necessary for an economic or industrial development project or program subject to approval by a vote of a majority of the registered voters of such city or village voting upon the question. Subject to such vote, funds may be derived from property tax, local option sales tax, or any other general tax levied by the city or village or generated from municipally owned utilities or grants, donations, or state and federal funds received by the city or village subject to any restrictions of the grantor, donor, or state or federal law.

Source:Neb. Const. art. XII, sec. 2 (1875); Transferred by Constitutional Convention, 1919-1920, art. XIII, sec. 2; Amended 1972, Laws 1971, LB 688, sec. 1; Amended 1982, Laws 1982, LB 634, sec. 1; Amended 1990, Laws 1990, LR 11, sec. 1; Amended 2010, Laws 2010, LR 297CA, sec. 1.

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