New tools to finance a new arena and roads top Mayor Chris Beutler’s goals for the 2008 Legislature.

Beutler is no longer a lawmaker, but he still has an agenda he hopes to push through the session that began this week.

He was flanked at a press conference by Lincoln Senator Bill Avery, who will soon introduce a bill creating a financing mechanism to help pay for a new arena in Lincoln. Avery’s legislation would amend the law that helped Omaha pay off its Qwest Center by allowing the city to keep 70 percent of the state sales taxes collected at the convention center, arena and an adjoining hotel. The remaining 30 percent went into a fund to help other Nebraska cities build or renovate cultural attractions and other facilities.

Avery tried to amend the legislation to allow Lincoln to benefit from the legislation, but backed off after Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers threatened a filibuster. 

He said the sacrifice he made last year should earn him some credit this time around.  However, he said he doesn’t have Chambers’ support yet.

“Quite frankly, I wish I did,” Avery said.

His bill would turn back to Lincoln 70 percent of the sales tax revenue generated by a new private convention hotel and arena and any hotels within 450 yards, which would mean the Holiday Inn.

The remaining 30 percent would go into a state civic, cultural and convention center financing fund for Nebraska communities.

While some lawmakers are holding off on introducing bills they expect Chambers could derail, Beutler said the arena bill is needed this session, especially since Lincoln voters will likely vote on the arena project in spring 2009.

“If we expect to succeed, we need to ensure our community that we have a solid financial package in place,” Beutler said.

His other prioritiy is increased road funding.

On Thursday morning, Lincoln Senator Amanda McGill introduced   a bill that would create a new financing tool to build roads. It would allow the city to create development districts around the city edges — particularly in retail or commercial developments — and set aside a portion of the new sales tax revenue generated. The money would be used to make payments on a general obligation bond, which would be used to pay for streets or install water and sewer service.

  It would be similar to a tax increment financing district, except use sales tax revenue.

“We are not asking the Legislature for any additional money with this bill,” Beutler said. “We are simply asking for another tool to help us help ourselves.”

Reach Deena Winter at 473-2642 or dwinter@journalstar.com.