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Council to discuss cancer center measures Tuesday

A public hearing will be held Tuesday about two Omaha City Council measures that ultimately would provide $35 million to help construct the $370 million Cancer Center Campus at the medical center.









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An occupational tax on Omaha’s tobacco vendors could help generate $35 million for the UNMC Cancer Center Campus.
Five City Council members — Chairman Thomas Mulligan, Chris Jerram, Peter Festersen, Ben Gray and Garry Gernandt — proposed the two ordinances. Mayor Jim Suttle has expressed his support for the measures.

One ordinance would provide $3.5 million for each of the next 10 years to the project. The other ordinance would raise the money necessary by implementing a 7 percent occupation tax on retailers who sell tobacco products.

The Council likely will vote on the measures on Oct. 2.

The cancer center is predicted to:

  • Provide nearly 4,800 jobs during construction.
  • Add 1,200 jobs at the medical center – each with an average salary of approximately $70,000.
  • Create an additional 3,457 ongoing jobs throughout the Omaha metro area.
  • Infuse $537 million annually into the city and state economy.

Employees who wish to ask city council members to support the project must do so on their own time and not use university resources (computers, telephones, letterhead or university accounts) to do so.

See how to contact members of the city council.