Sections 13-501 to 13-513 shall be known and may be cited as the Nebraska Budget Act.

(1) The purpose of the Nebraska Budget Act is to require governing bodies of this state to which the act applies to follow prescribed budget practices and procedures and make available to the public pertinent information pertaining to the financial requirements and expectations of such governing bodies so that intelligent and informed support, opposition, criticism, suggestions, or observations can be made by those affected.

(2) The act shall not apply to governing bodies which have a budget of less than five thousand dollars per year.

(3) The act shall not apply to proprietary functions of municipalities for which a separate budget has been approved by the city council or village board as provided in the Municipal Proprietary Function Act.

(4) The Nebraska Budget Act shall not apply to any governing body for any fiscal year in which the governing body will not have a property tax request or receive state aid as defined in section 13-518.

(5) The act shall not apply to any public power district or public power and irrigation district organized pursuant to Chapter 70, article 6, to any rural power district organized pursuant to Chapter 70, article 8, or to any agency created pursuant to sections 18-2426 to 18-2434.

For purposes of the Nebraska Budget Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) Governing body means the governing body of any county agricultural society, elected county fair board, joint airport authority formed under the Joint Airport Authorities Act, city or county airport authority, bridge commission created pursuant to section 39-868, cemetery district, city, village, municipal county, community college, community redevelopment authority, county, drainage or levee district, educational service unit, rural or suburban fire protection district, historical society, hospital district, irrigation district, learning community, natural resources district, nonprofit county historical association or society for which a tax is levied under subsection (1) of section 23-355.01, public building commission, railroad transportation safety district, reclamation district, road improvement district, rural water district, school district, sanitary and improvement district, township, offstreet parking district, transit authority, regional metropolitan transit authority, metropolitan utilities district, Educational Service Unit Coordinating Council, political subdivision with the authority to have a property tax request, with the authority to levy a toll, or that receives state aid, and joint entity created pursuant to the Interlocal Cooperation Act that receives tax funds generated under section 2-3226.05;

(2) Levying board means any governing body which has the power or duty to levy a tax;

(3) Fiscal year means the twelve-month period used by each governing body in determining and carrying on its financial and taxing affairs;

(4) Tax means any general or special tax levied against persons, property, or business for public purposes as provided by law but shall not include any special assessment;

(5) Auditor means the Auditor of Public Accounts;

(6) Cash reserve means funds required for the period before revenue would become available for expenditure but shall not include funds held in any special reserve fund;

(7) Public funds means all money, including nontax money, used in the operation and functions of governing bodies. For purposes of a county, city, or village which has a lottery established under the Nebraska County and City Lottery Act, only those net proceeds which are actually received by the county, city, or village from a licensed lottery operator shall be considered public funds, and public funds shall not include amounts awarded as prizes;

(8) Adopted budget statement means a proposed budget statement which has been adopted or amended and adopted as provided in section 13-506. Such term shall include additions, if any, to an adopted budget statement made by a revised budget which has been adopted as provided in section 13-511;

(9) Special reserve fund means any special fund set aside by the governing body for a particular purpose and not available for expenditure for any other purpose. Funds created for (a) the retirement of bonded indebtedness, (b) the funding of employee pension plans, (c) the purposes of the Political Subdivisions Self-Funding Benefits Act, (d) the purposes of the Local Option Municipal Economic Development Act, (e) voter-approved sinking funds, or (f) statutorily authorized sinking funds shall be considered special reserve funds;

(10) Biennial period means the two fiscal years comprising a biennium commencing in odd-numbered or even-numbered years used by a city, village, or natural resources district in determining and carrying on its financial and taxing affairs; and

(11) Biennial budget means (a) a budget by a city of the primary or metropolitan class that adopts a charter provision providing for a biennial period to determine and carry on the city's financial and taxing affairs, (b) a budget by a city of the first or second class or village that provides for a biennial period to determine and carry on the city's or village's financial and taxing affairs, or (c) a budget by a natural resources district that provides for a biennial period to determine and carry on the natural resources district's financial and taxing affairs.

(1) Each governing body shall annually or biennially, as the case may be, prepare a proposed budget statement on forms prescribed and furnished by the auditor. The proposed budget statement shall be made available to the public by the political subdivision prior to publication of the notice of the hearing on the proposed budget statement pursuant to section 13-506. A proposed budget statement shall contain the following information, except as provided by state law:

(a) For the immediately preceding fiscal year or biennial period, the revenue from all sources, including motor vehicle taxes, other than revenue received from personal and real property taxation, allocated to the funds and separately stated as to each such source: The unencumbered cash balance at the beginning and end of the year or biennial period; the amount received by taxation of personal and real property; and the amount of actual expenditures;

(b) For the current fiscal year or biennial period, actual and estimated revenue from all sources, including motor vehicle taxes, allocated to the funds and separately stated as to each such source: The actual unencumbered cash balance available at the beginning of the year or biennial period; the amount received from personal and real property taxation; and the amount of actual and estimated expenditures, whichever is applicable. Such statement shall contain the cash reserve for each fiscal year or biennial period and shall note whether or not such reserve is encumbered. Such cash reserve projections shall be based upon the actual experience of prior years or biennial periods. The cash reserve shall not exceed fifty percent of the total budget adopted exclusive of capital outlay items;

(c) For the immediately ensuing fiscal year or biennial period, an estimate of revenue from all sources, including motor vehicle taxes, other than revenue to be received from taxation of personal and real property, separately stated as to each such source: The actual or estimated unencumbered cash balances, whichever is applicable, to be available at the beginning of the year or biennial period; the amounts proposed to be expended during the year or biennial period; and the amount of cash reserve, based on actual experience of prior years or biennial periods, which cash reserve shall not exceed fifty percent of the total budget adopted exclusive of capital outlay items;

(d) A statement setting out separately the amount sought to be raised from the levy of a tax on the taxable value of real property (i) for the purpose of paying the principal or interest on bonds issued or authorized to be issued by the governing body or the legal voters of the political subdivision and (ii) for all other purposes;

(e) A uniform summary of the proposed budget statement, including each proprietary function fund included in a separate proprietary budget statement prepared pursuant to the Municipal Proprietary Function Act, and a grand total of all funds maintained by the governing body;

(f) For municipalities, a list of the proprietary functions which are not included in the budget statement. Such proprietary functions shall have a separate budget statement which is approved by the city council or village board as provided in the Municipal Proprietary Function Act; and

(g) For school districts and educational service units, a separate identification and description of all current and future costs to the school district or educational service unit which are reasonably anticipated as a result of any contract, and any adopted amendments thereto, for superintendent services to be rendered to such school district or administrator services to be rendered to such educational service unit.

(2) The actual or estimated unencumbered cash balance required to be included in the budget statement by this section shall include deposits and investments of the political subdivision as well as any funds held by the county treasurer for the political subdivision and shall be accurately stated on the proposed budget statement.

(3) The political subdivision shall correct any material errors in the budget statement detected by the auditor or by other sources.

The estimated expenditures plus the required cash reserve for the ensuing fiscal year or biennial period less all estimated and actual unencumbered balances at the beginning of the year or biennial period and less the estimated income from all sources, including motor vehicle taxes, other than taxation of personal and real property shall equal the amount to be received from taxes, and such amount shall be shown on the proposed budget statement pursuant to section 13-504. The amount to be raised from taxation of personal and real property, as determined above, plus the estimated revenue from other sources, including motor vehicle taxes, and the unencumbered balances shall equal the estimated expenditures, plus the necessary required cash reserve, for the ensuing year or biennial period.

(1) Each governing body shall each year or biennial period conduct a public hearing on its proposed budget statement. Such hearing shall be held separately from any regularly scheduled meeting of the governing body and shall not be limited by time. Notice of place and time of such hearing, together with a summary of the proposed budget statement, shall be published at least four calendar days prior to the date set for hearing in a newspaper of general circulation within the governing body's jurisdiction. For purposes of such notice, the four calendar days shall include the day of publication but not the day of hearing. When the total operating budget, not including reserves, does not exceed ten thousand dollars per year or twenty thousand dollars per biennial period, the proposed budget summary may be posted at the governing body's principal headquarters. At such hearing, the governing body shall make at least three copies of the proposed budget statement available to the public and shall make a presentation outlining key provisions of the proposed budget statement, including, but not limited to, a comparison with the prior year's budget. Any member of the public desiring to speak on the proposed budget statement shall be allowed to address the governing body at the hearing and shall be given a reasonable amount of time to do so. After such hearing, the proposed budget statement shall be adopted, or amended and adopted as amended, and a written record shall be kept of such hearing. The amount to be received from personal and real property taxation shall be certified to the levying board after the proposed budget statement is adopted or is amended and adopted as amended. If the levying board represents more than one county, a member or a representative of the governing board shall, upon the written request of any represented county, appear and present its budget at the hearing of the requesting county. The certification of the amount to be received from personal and real property taxation shall specify separately (a) the amount to be applied to the payment of principal or interest on bonds issued or authorized to be issued by the governing body or the legal voters of the political subdivision and (b) the amount to be received for all other purposes. If the adopted budget statement reflects a change from that shown in the published proposed budget statement, a summary of such changes shall be published within twenty calendar days after its adoption in the manner provided in this section, but without provision for hearing, setting forth the items changed and the reasons for such changes.

(2) Upon approval by the governing body, the budget shall be filed with the auditor. The auditor may review the budget for errors in mathematics, improper accounting, and noncompliance with the Nebraska Budget Act or sections 13-518 to 13-522. If the auditor detects such errors, he or she shall immediately notify the governing body of such errors. The governing body shall correct any such error as provided in section 13-511. Warrants for the payment of expenditures provided in the budget adopted under this section shall be valid notwithstanding any errors or noncompliance for which the auditor has notified the governing body.

(3) Each school district shall include in the notice required pursuant to subsection (1) of this section the following statement: For more information on statewide receipts and expenditures, and to compare cost per pupil and performance to other school districts, go to: [Insert Internet address for the website established pursuant to section 79-302.01]. In addition, each school district shall electronically publish such statement on the school district website. Such electronic publication shall be prominently displayed with an active link to the Internet address for the website established pursuant to section 79-302.01 to allow the public access to the information.

When a levy increase has been authorized by vote of the electors, the adopted budget statement shall indicate the amount of the levy increase.

(1) After publication and hearing thereon and within the time prescribed by law, each governing body shall file with and certify to the levying board or boards on or before September 30 of each year or September 30 of the final year of a biennial period and file with the auditor a copy of the adopted budget statement which complies with sections 13-518 to 13-522 or 79-1023 to 79-1030, if applicable, together with the amount of the tax required to fund the adopted budget, setting out separately (a) the amount to be levied for the payment of principal or interest on bonds issued or authorized to be issued by the governing body or the legal voters of the political subdivision and (b) the amount to be levied for all other purposes. Proof of publication shall be attached to the statements. For fiscal years prior to fiscal year 2017-18, learning communities shall also file a copy of such adopted budget statement with member school districts on or before September 1 of each year. If the prime rate published by the Federal Reserve Board is ten percent or more at the time of the filing and certification required under this subsection, the governing body, in certifying the amount required, may make allowance for delinquent taxes not exceeding five percent of the amount required plus the actual percentage of delinquent taxes for the preceding tax year or biennial period and for the amount of estimated tax loss from any pending or anticipated litigation which involves taxation and in which tax collections have been or can be withheld or escrowed by court order. For purposes of this section, anticipated litigation shall be limited to the anticipation of an action being filed by a taxpayer who or which filed a similar action for the preceding year or biennial period which is still pending. Except for such allowances, a governing body shall not certify an amount of tax more than one percent greater or lesser than the amount determined under section 13-505.

(2) Each governing body shall use the certified taxable values as provided by the county assessor pursuant to section 13-509 for the current year in setting or certifying the levy. Each governing body may designate one of its members to perform any duty or responsibility required of such body by this section.

(1) On or before August 20 of each year, the county assessor shall certify to each governing body or board empowered to levy or certify a tax levy the current taxable value of the taxable real and personal property subject to the applicable levy. The certification shall be provided to the governing body or board (a) by mail if requested by the governing body or board, (b) electronically, or (c) by listing such certification on the county assessor's website.

(2) Current taxable value for real property shall mean the value established by the county assessor and equalized by the county board of equalization and the Tax Equalization and Review Commission. Current taxable value for tangible personal property shall mean the net book value reported by the taxpayer and certified by the county assessor.

(3) If a political subdivision annexes property since the last time taxable values were certified under subsection (1) of this section, the governing body of such political subdivision shall file and record a certified copy of the annexation ordinance, petition, or resolution in the office of the register of deeds or, if none, the county clerk and the county assessor of the county in which the annexed property is located. The annexation ordinance, petition, or resolution shall include a full legal description of the annexed property. If the register of deeds or county clerk receives and records such ordinance, petition, or resolution prior to July 1 or, for annexations by a city of the metropolitan class, prior to August 1, the valuation of the real and personal property annexed shall be considered in the taxable valuation of the annexing political subdivision for the current year. If the register of deeds or county clerk receives and records such ordinance, petition, or resolution on or after July 1 or, for annexations by a city of the metropolitan class, on or after August 1, the valuation of the real and personal property annexed shall be considered in the taxable valuation of the annexing political subdivision for the following year.

(4) If the legal voters of a political subdivision have approved a bond since the last time taxable values were certified under subsection (1) of this section, the governing body of such political subdivision shall file a copy of the bond language approved by the legal voters of the political subdivision and a full legal description of the property subject to the bond with the county assessor of the county or counties in which such political subdivision is located. If the county assessor receives such copy and full legal description prior to July 1 or, for bonds of a city of the metropolitan class, prior to August 1, the valuation of the real and personal property subject to the bond shall be included in the value certified by the county assessor pursuant to subsection (1) of this section for the current year. If the county assessor receives such copy and full legal description on or after July 1 or, for bonds of a city of the metropolitan class, on or after August 1, the valuation of the real and personal property subject to the bond shall be included in the value certified by the county assessor pursuant to subsection (1) of this section for the following year.

On and after the first day of its fiscal year in 1993 and of each succeeding year or on or after the first day of its biennial period and until the adoption of the budget by a governing body in September, the governing body may expend any balance of cash on hand for the current expenses of the political subdivision governed by the governing body. Except as provided in section 13-509.02, such expenditures shall not exceed an amount equivalent to the total amount expended under the last budget in the equivalent period of the prior budget year or biennial period. Such expenditures shall be charged against the appropriations for each individual fund or purpose as provided in the budget when adopted.

The restriction on expenditures in section 13-509.01 may be exceeded upon the express finding of the governing body of the political subdivision that expenditures beyond the amount authorized are necessary to enable the political subdivision to meet its statutory duties and responsibilities. The finding and approval of the expenditures in excess of the statutory authorization shall be adopted by the governing body of the political subdivision in open public session of the governing body. Expenditures authorized by this section shall be charged against appropriations for each individual fund or purpose as provided in the budget when adopted, and nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize expenditures by the political subdivision in excess of that authorized by any other statutory provision.

Whenever during the current fiscal year or biennial period it becomes apparent to a governing body that due to unforeseen emergencies there is temporarily insufficient money in a particular fund to meet the requirements of the adopted budget of expenditures for that fund, the governing body may by a majority vote, unless otherwise provided by state law, transfer money from other funds to such fund. No expenditure during any fiscal year or biennial period shall be made in excess of the amounts indicated in the adopted budget statement, except as authorized in section 13-511, or by state law. Any officer or officers of any governing body who obligates funds contrary to the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class V misdemeanor.

(1) Unless otherwise provided by law, whenever during the current fiscal year or biennial period it becomes apparent to a governing body that (a) there are circumstances which could not reasonably have been anticipated at the time the budget for the current year or biennial period was adopted, (b) the budget adopted violated sections 13-518 to 13-522, such that the revenue of the current fiscal year or biennial period for any fund thereof will be insufficient, additional expenses will be necessarily incurred, or there is a need to reduce the budget requirements to comply with sections 13-518 to 13-522, or (c) the governing body has been notified by the auditor of a mathematical or accounting error or noncompliance with the Nebraska Budget Act, such governing body may propose to revise the previously adopted budget statement and shall conduct a public hearing on such proposal. The public hearing requirement shall not apply to emergency expenditures pursuant to section 81-829.51.

(2) Notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be published at least four calendar days prior to the date set for hearing in a newspaper of general circulation within the governing body's jurisdiction. For purposes of such notice, the four calendar days shall include the day of publication but not the day of hearing. Such published notice shall set forth (a) the time and place of the hearing, (b) the amount in dollars of additional or reduced money required and for what purpose, (c) a statement setting forth the nature of the unanticipated circumstances and, if the budget requirements are to be increased, the reasons why the previously adopted budget of expenditures cannot be reduced during the remainder of the current year or biennial period to meet the need for additional money in that manner, (d) a copy of the summary of the originally adopted budget previously published, and (e) a copy of the summary of the proposed revised budget.

(3) At such hearing any taxpayer may appear or file a written statement protesting any application for additional money. A written record shall be kept of all such hearings.

(4) Upon conclusion of the public hearing on the proposed revised budget and approval of the proposed revised budget by the governing body, the governing body shall file with the county clerk of the county or counties in which such governing body is located, with the learning community coordinating council for fiscal years prior to fiscal year 2017-18 for school districts that are members of learning communities, and with the auditor, a copy of the revised budget, as adopted. The governing body may then issue warrants in payment for expenditures authorized by the adopted revised budget. Such warrants shall be referred to as registered warrants and shall be repaid during the next fiscal year or biennial period from funds derived from taxes levied therefor.

(5) Within thirty calendar days after the adoption of the budget under section 13-506, a governing body may, or within thirty calendar days after notification of an error by the auditor, a governing body shall, correct an adopted budget which contains a clerical, mathematical, or accounting error which does not affect the total amount budgeted by more than one percent or increase the amount required from property taxes. No public hearing shall be required for such a correction. After correction, the governing body shall file a copy of the corrected budget with the county clerk of the county or counties in which such governing body is located and with the auditor. The governing body may then issue warrants in payment for expenditures authorized by the budget.

A taxpayer upon whom a tax will be imposed as a result of the action of a governing body in adopting a budget statement may contest the validity of the budget statement adopted by the governing body by filing an action in the district court of the county in which the governing body is situated. Such action shall be based either upon a violation of or a failure to comply with the provisions and requirements of the Nebraska Budget Act by the governing body. In response to such action, the governing body shall be required to show cause why the budget statement should not be ordered set aside, modified, or changed. The action shall be tried to the court without a jury and shall be given priority by the district court over other pending civil litigation, and by the appellate court on appeal, to the extent possible and feasible to expedite a decision. Such action shall be filed within thirty days after the adopted budget statement is required to be filed by the governing body with the levying board. If the district court finds that the governing body has violated or failed to comply with the requirements of the act, the court shall, in whole or in part, set aside, modify, or change the adopted budget statement or tax levy as the justice of the case may require. The district court's decision may be appealed to the Court of Appeals.

The remedy provided in this section shall not be exclusive but shall be in addition to any other remedy provided by law.

(1) The auditor shall, on or before August 1 each year, request information from each governing body in a form prescribed by the auditor regarding (a) trade names, corporate names, or other business names under which the governing body operates and (b) agreements to which the governing body is a party under the Interlocal Cooperation Act and the Joint Public Agency Act. Each governing body shall provide such information to the auditor on or before September 30.

(2) Information requested pursuant to this section that is not received by the auditor on or before September 30 shall be delinquent. The auditor shall notify the political subdivision by facsimile transmission, email, or first-class mail of such delinquency. Beginning on the day that such notification is sent, the auditor may assess the political subdivision a late fee of twenty dollars per day for each calendar day the requested information remains delinquent. The total late fee assessed to a political subdivision under this section shall not exceed two thousand dollars per delinquency.

(3) The auditor shall remit to the State Treasurer for credit to the Auditor of Public Accounts Cash Fund a remedial fee sufficient to reimburse the direct costs of administering and enforcing this section, but such remedial fee shall not exceed one hundred dollars from any late fee received under this section. The auditor shall remit any late fee amount in excess of one hundred dollars received under this section to the State Treasurer to be distributed in accordance with Article VII, section 5, of the Constitution of Nebraska.

(4) If a political subdivision fails to provide the information requested under this section on or before September 30, the auditor may, at his or her discretion, audit such political subdivision. The expense of such audit shall be paid by the political subdivision.

A public power district or public power and irrigation district organized pursuant to Chapter 70, article 6, a rural power district organized pursuant to Chapter 70, article 8, or any agency created pursuant to sections 18-2426 to 18-2434 shall prepare in writing each year a proposed budget which shall include at a minimum: Revenue from all sources separately stated as to each source and expenditures from the prior two years; estimates of the current year's revenue from all sources separately stated as to each source and expenditures; and a summary which outlines the fiscal policy of the district or agency for the period covered by the budget. Such proposed budget shall be available for inspection by the general public at each district's or agency's principal headquarters at least seven days prior to the meeting of the board of directors at which such budget is to be adopted.

Notice of the place and time of such meeting of the board of directors shall be published at least seven days prior to the date set for such meeting in a newspaper of general circulation within the district or agency. The notice shall include a statement that the proposed budget is available for public inspection and the location where it is available. Any changes to the proposed budget made between the date the proposed budget is made available for public inspection and the date of the board meeting shall be added to the proposed budget at the principal headquarters of the district or agency prior to the board meeting. At such meeting the public shall have an opportunity to testify before the proposed budget is adopted, and a written record shall be kept of such meeting. If the adopted budget reflects a change from that shown in the proposed budget a summary of such changes shall be available for inspection at the principal headquarters of such district or agency.

The annual budget of all school districts and educational service units shall be subject to the Nebraska Budget Act.

For purposes of sections 13-518 to 13-522:

(1) Allowable growth means (a) for governmental units other than community colleges, the percentage increase in taxable valuation in excess of the base limitation established under section 77-3446, if any, due to (i) improvements to real property as a result of new construction and additions to existing buildings, (ii) any other improvements to real property which increase the value of such property, (iii) any increase in valuation due to annexation of real property by the governmental unit, (iv) a change in the use of real property, (v) any increase in personal property valuation over the prior year, and (vi) the accumulated excess valuation over the redevelopment project valuation described in section 18-2147 of the Community Development Law for redevelopment projects within the governmental unit in the year immediately after the division of taxes for such redevelopment project has ended and (b) for community colleges, the percentage increase in excess of the base limitation, if any, in full-time equivalent students from the second year to the first year preceding the year for which the budget is being determined;

(2) Capital improvements means (a) acquisition of real property or (b) acquisition, construction, or extension of any improvements on real property;

(3) Governing body has the same meaning as in section 13-503, except that for fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 2025, such term shall not include the governing body of any county, city, or village;

(4) Governmental unit means every political subdivision which has authority to levy a property tax or authority to request levy authority under section 77-3443, except that such term shall not include (a) sanitary and improvement districts which have been in existence for five years or less, (b) school districts, or (c) for fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 2025, counties, cities, or villages;

(5) Qualified sinking fund means a fund or funds maintained separately from the general fund to pay for acquisition or replacement of tangible personal property with a useful life of five years or more which is to be undertaken in the future but is to be paid for in part or in total in advance using periodic payments into the fund. The term includes sinking funds under subdivision (13) of section 35-508 for firefighting and rescue equipment or apparatus;

(6) Restricted funds means (a) property tax, excluding any amounts refunded to taxpayers, (b) payments in lieu of property taxes, (c) local option sales taxes, (d) motor vehicle taxes, (e) state aid, (f) transfers of surpluses from any user fee, permit fee, or regulatory fee if the fee surplus is transferred to fund a service or function not directly related to the fee and the costs of the activity funded from the fee, (g) any funds excluded from restricted funds for the prior year because they were budgeted for capital improvements but which were not spent and are not expected to be spent for capital improvements, (h) the tax provided in sections 77-27,223 to 77-27,227 beginning in the second fiscal year in which the county will receive a full year of receipts, and (i) any excess tax collections returned to the county under section 77-1776. Funds received pursuant to the nameplate capacity tax levied under section 77-6203 for the first five years after a renewable energy generation facility has been commissioned are nonrestricted funds; and

(7) State aid means:

(a) For all governmental units, state aid paid pursuant to sections 60-3,202 and 77-3523 and reimbursement provided pursuant to section 77-1239;

(b) For municipalities, state aid to municipalities paid pursuant to sections 39-2501 to 39-2520, 60-3,190, and 77-27,139.04 and insurance premium tax paid to municipalities;

(c) For counties, state aid to counties paid pursuant to sections 60-3,184 to 60-3,190, insurance premium tax paid to counties, and reimbursements to counties from funds appropriated pursuant to section 29-3933;

(d) For community colleges, state aid to community colleges paid pursuant to the Community College Aid Act;

(e) For educational service units, state aid appropriated under sections 79-1241.01 and 79-1241.03; and

(f) For local public health departments as defined in section 71-1626, state aid as distributed under section 71-1628.08.

(1)(a) Subject to subdivisions (1)(b) and (c) of this section, for all fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 1998, no governmental unit shall adopt a budget containing a total of budgeted restricted funds more than the last prior year's total of budgeted restricted funds plus allowable growth plus the basic allowable growth percentage of the base limitation established under section 77-3446. For the second fiscal year in which a county will receive a full year of receipts from the tax imposed in sections 77-27,223 to 77-27,227, the prior year's total of restricted funds shall be the prior year's total of restricted funds plus the total receipts from the tax imposed in sections 77-27,223 to 77-27,227 in the prior year. If a governmental unit transfers the financial responsibility of providing a service financed in whole or in part with restricted funds to another governmental unit or the state, the amount of restricted funds associated with providing the service shall be subtracted from the last prior year's total of budgeted restricted funds for the previous provider and may be added to the last prior year's total of restricted funds for the new provider. For governmental units that have consolidated, the calculations made under this section for consolidating units shall be made based on the combined total of restricted funds, population, or full-time equivalent students of each governmental unit.

(b) For all fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 2008, educational service units may exceed the limitations of subdivision (1)(a) of this section to the extent that one hundred ten percent of the needs for the educational service unit calculated pursuant to section 79-1241.03 exceeds the budgeted restricted funds allowed pursuant to subdivision (1)(a) of this section.

(c) For fiscal year 2017-18, the last prior year’s total of restricted funds for counties shall be the last prior year’s total of restricted funds less the last prior year’s restricted funds budgeted by counties under sections 39-2501 to 39-2520, plus the last prior year’s amount of restricted funds budgeted by counties under sections 39-2501 to 39-2520 to be used for capital improvements.

(d) The limitations of subdivision (1)(a) of this section shall not apply to the budget or budget statement adopted by a regional metropolitan transit authority for the first five fiscal years commencing on the January 1 that follows the effective date of the conversion of the transit authority established under the Transit Authority Law into a regional metropolitan transit authority.

(2) A governmental unit may exceed the limit provided in subdivision (1)(a) of this section for a fiscal year by up to an additional one percent upon the affirmative vote of at least seventy-five percent of the governing body.

(3) A governmental unit may exceed the applicable allowable growth percentage otherwise prescribed in this section by an amount approved by a majority of legal voters voting on the issue at a special election called for such purpose upon the recommendation of the governing body or upon the receipt by the county clerk or election commissioner of a petition requesting an election signed by at least five percent of the legal voters of the governmental unit. The recommendation of the governing body or the petition of the legal voters shall include the amount and percentage by which the governing body would increase its budgeted restricted funds for the ensuing year over and above the current year's budgeted restricted funds. The county clerk or election commissioner shall call for a special election on the issue within thirty days after the receipt of such governing body recommendation or legal voter petition. The election shall be held pursuant to the Election Act, and all costs shall be paid by the governing body. The issue may be approved on the same question as a vote to exceed the levy limits provided in section 77-3444.

(4) In lieu of the election procedures in subsection (3) of this section, any governmental unit may, for a period of one year, exceed the allowable growth percentage otherwise prescribed in this section by an amount approved by a majority of legal voters voting at a meeting of the residents of the governmental unit, called after notice is published in a newspaper of general circulation in the governmental unit at least twenty days prior to the meeting. At least ten percent of the registered voters residing in the governmental unit shall constitute a quorum for purposes of taking action to exceed the allowable growth percentage. If a majority of the registered voters present at the meeting vote in favor of exceeding the allowable growth percentage, a copy of the record of that action shall be forwarded to the Auditor of Public Accounts along with the budget documents. The issue to exceed the allowable growth percentage may be approved at the same meeting as a vote to exceed the limits or final levy allocation provided in section 77-3444.

The limitations in section 13-519 shall not apply to (1) restricted funds budgeted for capital improvements, (2) restricted funds expended from a qualified sinking fund for acquisition or replacement of tangible personal property with a useful life of five years or more, (3) restricted funds pledged to retire bonds as defined in subdivision (1) of section 10-134 and approved according to law, (4) restricted funds used by a public airport to retire interest-free loans from the Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Transportation in lieu of bonded indebtedness at a lower cost to the public airport, (5) restricted funds budgeted in support of a service which is the subject of an agreement or a modification of an existing agreement whether operated by one of the parties to the agreement or by an independent joint entity or joint public agency, (6) restricted funds budgeted to pay for repairs to infrastructure damaged by a natural disaster which is declared a disaster emergency pursuant to the Emergency Management Act, (7) restricted funds budgeted to pay for judgments, except judgments or orders from the Commission of Industrial Relations, obtained against a governmental unit which require or obligate a governmental unit to pay such judgment, to the extent such judgment is not paid by liability insurance coverage of a governmental unit, (8) restricted funds budgeted to pay benefits under the Firefighter Cancer Benefits Act, (9) the dollar amount by which restricted funds budgeted by a natural resources district to administer and implement ground water management activities and integrated management activities under the Nebraska Ground Water Management and Protection Act exceed its restricted funds budgeted to administer and implement ground water management activities and integrated management activities for FY2003-04, or (10) restricted funds equal to the amount of local option sales and use tax budgeted to be collected within a good life district established pursuant to section 77-4405.

A governmental unit may choose not to increase its total of restricted funds by the full amount allowed by law in a particular year. In such cases, the governmental unit may carry forward to future budget years the amount of unused restricted funds authority. The governmental unit shall calculate its unused restricted funds authority and submit an accounting of such amount with the budget documents for that year. Such unused restricted funds authority may then be used in later years for increases in the total of restricted funds allowed by law. Any unused budget authority existing on April 8, 1998, by reason of any prior law may be used for increases in restricted funds authority.

(1) The Auditor of Public Accounts shall prepare budget documents to be submitted by governmental units which calculate the restricted funds authority for each governmental unit. Each governmental unit shall submit its calculated restricted funds authority with its budget documents at the time the budgets are due to the Auditor of Public Accounts. If the Auditor of Public Accounts determines from the budget documents that a governmental unit is not complying with the budget limits provided in sections 13-518 to 13-522, he or she shall notify the governing body of his or her determination and notify the State Treasurer of the noncompliance.

(2)(a) Upon receiving notice from the Auditor of Public Accounts, the State Treasurer shall then suspend distribution of state aid allocated to the governmental unit until such sections are complied with. The funds shall be held for six months until the governmental unit complies, and if the governmental unit complies within the six-month period, it shall receive the suspended funds, but after six months, if the governmental unit fails to comply, the suspended funds shall be forfeited and shall be (i) redistributed to other recipients of the state aid in the county where such noncompliant governmental unit is located or returned to the Highway Allocation Fund if there is no eligible recipient or (ii) in the case of a homestead exemption reimbursement, returned to the General Fund.

(b) The governmental unit shall continue to forfeit state aid until the governmental unit reaches compliance and the State Treasurer has received notification of such compliance from the Auditor of Public Accounts. All state aid that was forfeited shall remain forfeited and redistributed according to subdivision (a)(i) of this subsection.

(3) If any governmental unit fails to reach compliance within twelve months after the time of the order and notice of delinquency given by the Auditor of Public Accounts to the State Treasurer, such governmental unit shall be ineligible for future distributions of state aid. Upon reaching compliance, the governmental unit shall be eligible for future distributions of state aid.