Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 31, 1998)
Nelson to announce budget cuts By Todd Anderson Assignment Reporter Faced with a budget package that is only half complete, Gov. Ben Nelson is running out of time to make some tough cuts in the mainline bud get sent to him as LB1108. The governor has less than a day to finish his review of the budget bill passed by the Legislature last week, and he said he is disappointed by the excessive spending measures pro posed by the bill. “In my review I see a lot of spend ing and a lot of room for improve ment,” Nelson said during his weekly teleconference. “I do not understand the reason for all this budget spend ing.” Nelson said he estimated $35 mil lion worth of spending in excess of the mainline budget he originally proposed at the beginning of this year’s session. In addition, he said, the Legislature is still debating other bills that would increase spending even further. That makes cutting spending in LB 1108 tricky because it will be dif ficult to anticipate how many other bills make it to his desk in the eight days remaining in this year’s short session, Nelson said. “It certainly means we’re more conservative in our approach,” he said. Senators have yet to make a deci sion on Nelson’s proposed income tax dan. which includes extending last year’s cut indefinitely and increasing the tax cut. But Nelson said he doesn’t feel pressure from the Legislature to sign the budget package just because they’ve hesitated to pass the income tax plan. “The Legislature needs to cut taxes just as much as I want to see taxes cut,” Nelson said. “I would hope that they would not fail to pass the tax cut because I cut spending.” The governor said he would announce more specifically, today during a news conference, which parts of the budget plan will fall to the ■ cutting room floor. Nelson said he is sure LB 1108 will not pass his desk without vetoes. “I’m ordering red ink by the bar rel.” Council delays vote on park development By Todd Anderson Assignment Reporter Environmentalists breathed a sigh of relief Monday after city council members decided to delay voting on the fate of Wilderness Park in south west Lincoln. More than 20 opponents of the proposed city ordinance to change the zoning code for the area near South 14th Street and Pine Lake Road held signs in front of the new addition of the county-city building and collected signatures on a petition before the city council meeting began. Pat Rand, a former University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor of plant ecology, said she wanted to help pro tect Wilderness Park - a plot of land that has remained undeveloped for the last 28 years - from the intrusion of industrial development right next to its borders. “Development would destroy the -r development of the Wilderness Park,” Rand said. “It’s the only wild park the city has.” The council had scheduled the third and final reading on the resolu tion after receiving community input on the measure through six public hearings in the past two years. Late in the meeting, as the third and final reading of the resolution neared, opponents prepared to inter rupt the voting process to present their opinion. David Hall, a Lincoln resident, presented a petition with more than 140 signatures and a collection of facts about the park. The emotional presentation incit ed discussion about the preparedness of the council to make a decision on the issue if there were still concerns. Curt Donaldson, city councilman, Test Anxiety? Do you draw blank at the test? YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Join us and learn how to relax as you prepare for exams. Session I: February 17, 24 & March 3 Session II: April 7, 14 & 21 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. Room TBA Registration is required For more information call: Luis Diaz-Perdomo 472-7450 UHC Counseling and Psychological Services ii ii II said he originally opposed delaying the vote, but that changed after he talked to his mother-in-law, he said. “She said ‘Who’s going to win, the money or the environmentalists?’,” Donaldson said. “I decided we need to do more work on this.” City representatives also debated waiting two years for a study to be completed before making a final deci sion, but ultimately voted to schedule another public hearing on April 13 and vote on the proposal. 4 w f iacoim Exceptional selection of engagement and wedding rings, extraordinary values and passionate service. For a complimentary Engagement Package, call 180O.642.G1FT V I * ’ • -i' '*V*rV K:-' gtri: '' -v v 4. : . .. ' :* . ; ^ ":If BORSHEIMS. ABeHsfcnHaknctyCmfmy Regency Court 120 Regency Parkway, Omaha (402)391-0400 (800) 642-GIFT . _ —