LINCOLN- An omnibus tax bill set for debate on Tuesday in the Nebraska Legislature might be just what the Cities of Lincoln and Omaha were hoping for. If passed, the bill, LB727 introduced by Sen. Linehan, would expand the state's turnback tax law to help promote the expansion of convention spaces at Omaha's CHI Health Center and the construction of a new convention center in downtown Lincoln.

According to the City of Omaha, the new Steelhouse concert venue and the Astro Theater concert complex would also benefit greatly from the bill. "The majority of the cities we compete with have well over 500,000 square feet of convention space," said Deb Ward, executive director of the Omaha Convention and Visitors Bureau, "so if we want to remain competitive, we need to expand."

As of right now, Omaha's CHI Health Center is lagging behind the nationwide average, with only around 346,000 square feet of convention space and 16 breakout rooms for smaller meetings. In Lincoln, a broader turnback tax law, which LB727 would provide for, would allow the city to finance a $60 million downtown convention center, possibly near the Cornhusker Hotel or at the current site of the downtown post office.

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