The city of Lincoln expects to get an extra $4 million a year for road work once Nebraska's gas tax increase takes full effect in 2019.
Lawmakers voted last week to override a gubernatorial veto and raise the gas tax by 1.5 cents per gallon each year over four years. That would bump the gas tax — which includes both fixed and flexible components — to about 31.6 cents per gallon.
"We are very grateful for it," said Miki Esposito, director of Lincoln's Public Works and Utilities Department.
The city has $7 million to $11 million in annual unmet needs for road work, especially for rehabilitating residential streets, she said.
Statewide, the increase should raise an additional $75 million a year, to be split in thirds and divided among the state, cities and counties.
On Friday, the Legislative Fiscal Office projected Lincoln's share at about $4.1 million by 2019, slightly higher than the city's own estimate.
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Lancaster County would receive an estimated $1.4 million annually.