Omaha city officials are tweaking parts of the city's budget in light of a recent Nebraska Supreme Court ruling that expanded the city's ban on smoking in public.
The Associated Press | Posted: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 7:00 pm
OMAHA — Omaha city officials are tweaking parts of the city’s budget in light of a recent Nebraska Supreme Court ruling that expanded the city’s ban on smoking in public.
In May, the state Supreme Court ruled that Omaha’s exemption of keno bars and a horse racing track from its public smoking ban was unconstitutional. Last month, the smoking ban took effect in those businesses, as well.
Omaha finance director Carol Ebdon says her office looked at what happened to the city of Lincoln following its all-inclusive smoking ban. She determined that Omaha, too, will lose money because of lower keno revenue.
Ebdon says Omaha saw $8.1 million in keno revenue last year. She said that number is expected to drop to $7.3 million this year.