Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert is promising another cut in the city's property tax rate next year, acknowledging that high valuations are getting in the way of lower tax bills.

During her 11th State of the City Address, she also thanked all those who helped out when a tornado, with winds estimated at nearly 165 miles per hour, ripped through the northwest side of town last month leaving millions of dollars in damage but no deaths.

In addition Stothert continues to insist the city’s new streetcar is a huge plus going forward. Something not all agree with.

[VIEW OUR FULL VIDEO REPORT ABOVE]

Mayor Jean Stothert, Omaha (R): “Our city is financially strong. Our bond ratings are consistently high.”

As she runs for an unprecedented 4th term, Jean Stothert, Omaha’s first woman mayor delivers her latest State of the City Address, touting low crime, low taxes and finds her as always standing behind her at least, at least, $300 million downtown streetcar scheduled to be up and running in 2027.

Mayor Jean Stothert, Omaha (R): “By the end of this year, more than $1.3 billion dollars in new development will be underway along the streetcar corridor, outpacing all projections. And funding the streetcar exactly as we planned. Taxpayers will not pay for the streetcar and it will not put the city in debt.”

April 4, 2024/County Treasurer John Ewing, Candidate for Mayor (D): “It’s too expensive."

Democrat Douglas County Treasurer John Ewing is running against Stothert and while calling the streetcar a “great opportunity for economic development” he says it will cost upwards of $400 million, not $300 million, and all without the taxpayers OK.

APRIL 4, 2024/Ewing: “I just believe it's too expensive and we should not have done it without a vote of the people when it's that expensive.”

Stothert has long said no vote is needed because property taxes are not being raised to pay for it.

JANUARY 2023/Joe Jordan, NCN: ”In 2017 when you were running for your first reelection you said if there was a streetcar there would be a vote of the people, I don’t hear a vote of the people in this message today.” 

Mayor Jean Stothert: “I did. And what I said Joe at that time was the city will not build a streetcar if it requires a citywide property tax increase. And I said if the public is asked to pay, then they will be given the opportunity to vote, that's what I said. And so, the public is not being asked to pay.”

April 4, 2024/Ewing: “Anytime you create additional debt, that money comes from somewhere. We're going to pay more even if it's not a specific tax increase for the project.”

Monday/Stothert: “A vote of the people is not necessary for something like the streetcar because the people, the taxpayers, are not paying for it.”

Jordan: “Even if it’s a high price tag?”

Stothert: “Even if it’s a high price tag. We don’t have to go to a vote of the people for everything. That’s why they elect us.”

One year ago, a poll said 68 percent of Omaha voters oppose the streetcar, with 19 percent for it and 13 percent unsure.

It’s a poll that, according to the mayor, is just not true.