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The Omaha public school district is planning to decrease its property tax rate once again for the 2023-24 school year.

OPS officials unveiled their proposed budget at Thursday’s school board meeting, highlighting a levy decrease that has been ongoing for the last four years.

OPS is planning a levy of $1.217 per $100 of assessed value, a decrease of $0.014 from the previous year. Since the 2019-20 budget, the district’s tax rate has gone down nearly 3 cents.

The owner of a house valued at $150,000 would pay $1,826 in school taxes. That would be a reduction of about $21, or about 1%, in the school portion of the property tax bill for that homeowner. However, if the valuation on that house has increased, the new OPS levy would likely result in higher property taxes.

The proposed budget would involve a property tax request of $389.5 million for Nebraska’s largest school district, which is expected to have a final enrollment of 52,681 students — the highest enrollment since the pandemic.

Board member Bri Full said she’s concerned about lowering the levy when state aid could decrease in the future.

“When it comes to (the) long term, I don’t know if this is the best option for us to lower our levy right now,” she said. “Long term, we can’t depend on the state to fulfill our obligations.”

Shane Rhian, chief financial officer for OPS, said that while school aid is usually the first to go when the state cuts its budget, the district can’t add much more to its general reserve fund because it’s already near its maximum level set by board policy.

“In the short term, we are in a good spot,” Rhian said.

Rhian said the district’s general fund would increase by $17 million to accommodate the need to pay for more contracted services and equipment.

“Funding for the district’s special building fund will also be increasing for the second year in a row for necessary maintenance,” Rhian said.

If approved, OPS will end up with a general fund budget of $727 million and a total budget of $1.25 billion, Rhian said.

The proposed budget also included a five-year financial projection, something district officials continue to update throughout the year.

Rhian said OPS projects financial challenges beginning in 2024 when the district’s share of federal COVID-19 aid expires. OPS received more than $280 million in funding that has helped pay for several continuing and new initiatives and student services.

“It will be challenging to offer many of the services that have been and will be paid for by ESSER grant funds. Continuation of these services will likely require offsetting expenses in the future,” Rhian said. “We will also continue to work to identify ways to use our available resources more effectively and efficiently.”

The 2023-24 budget is set for a vote on Sept. 21.

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Are you looking for something to do this weekend? Here are a few events happening around the Omaha-metro in the coming days.

Tacoberfest: The two-day event mixing German and Latino traditions, kicks off from 5-11 p.m. at Scriptown Brewing Company, 3922 Farnam St., with tacos, pretzels, churros, polka, mariachi, beer, and margaritas.

Opera Outdoors: Opera Omaha is kicking off its 2023-24 season with an outdoor performance at 7 p.m. at Turner Park at Midtown Crossing. Bring the family early for lawn games at 5:30 p.m.

Cowtown Jamborama: Join the Omaha Jitterbugs for this weekend event. The Friday night dance starts at 8 p.m. at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center, located at 202 S 20th St. Tickets are available online for $25 with full weekend and VIP passes available.

Fight!: Watch stand-up comics battle it out over “wild and silly topics” from 10-11 p.m. at Blackstone Theater, located at 3624 Farnam St. Tickets are $10 online.

Chalk Art Festival: Local artists and chalk art enthusiasts will show off their skills from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The fifth annual event will transform the sidewalks along Farnam Street near Midtown Crossing into works of art.

Under the Big Canvas: The hour-long stand-up comedy showcase featuring David Kousgaard of Carter Lake, Iowa, starts at 7 p.m. at Blackstone Theater, located at 3624 Farnam St. Tickets are $10 online. Part of the Blackstone District’s Second Saturday.

World O! Water: Learn about the importance of water conservation in our community from noon to 4 p.m. at Chalco Hills Recreation Area, located at 8901 S. 154th St. Join local experts for live experiments and demonstrations, games, and other activities.

Rockbrook Village Art Fair: The free event featuring dozens of artists runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Rockbrook Village, located at 108th Street and West Center Road.

Tacoberfest: The two-day event mixing German and Latino traditions continues alongside Blackstone District’s Second Saturday. Enjoy live music, food, and entertainment from noon to 6 p.m. at Scriptown Brewing Company, 3922 Farnam St., as they kick off Hispanic Heritage Month.

Cowtown Jamborama: Join the Omaha Jitterbugs for this weekend event. The Saturday night dance starts at 8 p.m. at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center, located at 202 S 20th St. Tickets are available online for $25-$50 with full weekend and VIP passes available.

Vala’s Cider & Sunflower Festival: The fall season is in full swing at Vala’s Pumpkin Patch, located at 12102 S. 180th St. in Gretna. General admission tickets are $18.69 each on weekdays and $37.39 apiece when purchased online; ages 2 and younger get in free . Enjoy a cider flight, wander acres of sunflowers, and sign up for an evening tasting at Sunset Orchard for $35.

Fall Fitness in the Park: The weekly event gets underway at 4 p.m. Join in an hour-long Zumba workout this week at Turner Park at Midtown Crossing.

Silver Street Flea Market: Head to downtown Ashland from noon to 5 p.m. to check out a variety of items for sale.

United We Walk: Tri-Faith Commons celebrates Omaha’s diverse faith community with a walk around 13136 Faith Plaza from 3-6 p.m.

Skatefest Omaha: The BIPOC-led nonprofit is hosting its last event of the season at Broadway Skatepark, 1300 W. Broadway in Council Bluffs, with skate contests, live music, live art, food vendors, and more from noon to 7 p.m.

Patriotic Show & Shine: The 9/11 tribute show will feature a plaza full of cars from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, with a moment of silence at noon. All veterans and first responders get a free lunch. Join in the tribute at Bel Air Plaza, located at 12100 W. Center Road.

Chalk Art Festival: Local artists and chalk art enthusiasts will show off their skills from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The fifth annual event will transform the sidewalks along Farnam Street near Midtown Crossing into works of art.

Vala’s Cider & Sunflower Festival: The weekend event at Vala’s Pumpkin Patch, located at 12102 S. 180th St. in Gretna, continues.

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Looking for something else? You can find more things to do in Omaha — including free activities — at VisitOmaha.com. The RiverFront also has an online calendar of events, with activities planed most every day.

Do you have an event we should feature in future weekend planners? Be sure it’s listed on our Community Calendar.

Copyright 2023 WOWT. All rights reserved.

Top-ranked Omaha Westside turned in a typical performance Friday night against Bellevue West.

That is to say, dominating.

The Warriors sprinted to a 24-point lead and went on to defeat the eighth-ranked Thunderbirds 45-12. Westside moved to 3-0, having outscored its opponents 147-19.

Senior quarterback Anthony Rezac was responsible for five touchdowns, throwing for three and running for two.

"I was real excited," he said. "I've had this game circled on my calendar for a long time."

Rezac connected on TD passes of 15, 17 and 40 yards. He scored on runs of 1 and 79 yards.

"I've said this time and time again," Westside coach Paul Limongi said. "We think Anthony is the best quarterback in the state, and he's proven that the last two years."

Bellevue West, ranked No. 2 in the preseason, put together a solid drive to start the game. But its 13-play march stalled at midfield, and the Warriors went to work after a punt to the Westside 18-yard line.

The Warriors put together a 10-play drive capped by a 15-yard touchdown pass from Rezac to Caleb Benning. The march stayed alive with the help of Christian Jones, who recovered a fumble by teammate Jahmez Ross.

Westside padded that lead on the first play of the second quarter when Rezac sprinted 79 yards down the sideline for the score. After a Bellevue West punt, a 24-yard field goal by Will Bauerly made it 17-0.

An interception by Benning set up the next Westside score, and that didn't take long. Rezac hit Keynan Cotton with a 40-yard scoring strike on the next play to extend the lead.

The Thunderbirds broke through late in the first half shortly after a touchdown was nullified by a holding call. Two plays later, quarterback Daniel Kaelin connected with Ben Goodwater for a 19-yard touchdown.

Westside dampened any hopes of a Bellevue West comeback by scoring twice in the third quarter. Rezac punched it in from a yard out and then hit Cotton with a 17-yard scoring strike.

Thunderbirds reserve quarterback Will Anderson scored on a short run in the fourth quarter and Brody Goc finished up the Westside scoring on a 1-yard run.

Goc's TD came shortly after an apparent fumble recovery in the end zone by lineman Owen James was negated by an inadvertent whistle.

"We want to come out and play confident, play fast and execute," Limongi said. "I think we did that in all three phases."

Westside outyarded the Thunderbirds 433-246. Rezac threw for 141 yards and rushed for 100 while Ross carried 11 times for 113 yards.

"When we have our O-line moving the way they were today, it makes it easy on me and the rest of the backs," Rezac said. "It also opens up stuff in the passing game."

Limongi said it was gratifying to see his team pass its first road test.

?"We never want to think too far ahead," he said. "To win a game like this against a quality opponent on the road makes me very proud."

Westside returns to action next Friday against visiting Millard North while the Thunderbirds will play at Kearney.

Omaha Westside (3-0).....7 17 14 7—45

Bellevue West (2-2).........0 6 0 6—12

OW: Caleb Benning 15 pass from Anthony Rezac (Will Bauerly kick)

OW: Anthony Rezac 79 run (Bauerly kick)

OW: FG Bauerly 24

OW: Keynan Cotton 40 pass from Rezac (Bauerly kick)

BW: Ben Goodwater 19 pass from Danny Kaelin (pass failed)

OW: Rezac 1 run (Bauerly kick)

OW: Cotton 17 pass from Rezac (Bauerly kick)

BW: Will Anderson 4 run (kick failed)

OW: Brody Goc 1 run (Bauerly kick)

Marjie Ducey Omaha World-Herald

After a 2½-year wait, the light shining through the repaired stained-glass windows at Kountze Memorial Lutheran Church is a glorious sight.

“It’s unbelievable, especially when the sun hits them,” said Jim Smejkal, building superintendent and congregational activities director. “Just the clarity of everything. It’s so gorgeous.”

The congregation wants to show off the three windows with a stained-glass window rededication Sunday. Between the 9 and 11 a.m. services, there will be ice cream, cake and a hot buffet breakfast in the fellowship hall. A freewill donation is requested.

Coloring books of various Kountze stained-glass windows will be available for children. Perpetual calendars of the Kountze Windows will be for sale.

Because of sun damage and wood rot, the 94 windows at the church at 2650 Farnam St. in downtown Omaha typically need to be repaired about every 20 years. Kountze decided to go with a 100-year repair on two of its largest windows by replacing the wood frames with aluminum.

Lead in a smaller 3-foot window had rotted and also needed to be fixed.

Bovard Studios in Fairfield, Iowa, shipped the windows to its facility in January 2021, where they were disassembled, cleaned, releaded and then fit into custom-manufactured aluminum frames.

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“It’s quite a long process,” Smejkal said. “It takes a lot of time.”

Repairs were expected to be completed in about seven months. The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting supply delays nixed that timeline. All three windows finally were in place last month.

These are not the typical windows you’d see in a house. The largest is 21 feet wide and 26 feet tall. The other is 19 feet wide and 18 feet tall. They are 140 years old and moved with the church when it relocated from 16th and Harney streets in 1906.

Insulation and plywood covered the large openings above the balcony and in the sanctuary for all of those months.

“It was definitely dark in there,” Smejkal said.

The repairs cost about $600,000, and the church is taking donations from the congregation to cover the costs.

Smejkal said everyone is welcome to the rededication ceremony. The 9 a.m. service will be shown on Cox Cable Channel 13 and will be livestreamed at kmlchurch.org.

“Our windows are finally back and in place,” Smejkal said. “Come and see for yourself how beautiful the stained-glass windows are, and the many stories they tell.”

Keep it tuned to NEPrepZone.com throughout the night for complete coverage of the best local games, and scroll down for final scores from throughout the state.

Plus check out statewide Twitter/X list for real-time updates here.

BDS 50, Blue Hill 0

Garden County 43, Wallace 42

Lewiston 81, St. Edward 41

Madison 20, Winside 8

Randolph 44, Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family 0

Shelton 74, Santee 39

Silver Lake 36, Maywood-Hayes Center 21

Stuart 35, Cody-Kilgore 27

Sumner-Eddyville-Miller 54, Parkview Christian 6

Tri County 27, Wood River 6

Adams Central 13, Gothenburg 6

Douglas County West 45, Louisville 6

Broken Bow 14, McCook 10

Blair 48, Ralston 6

Syracuse 40, David City 0

Omaha Central 45, Lincoln High 0

Waverly 49, Elkhorn Mount Michael 7

Kearney 35, Lincoln North Star 7

High Plains 52, East Butler 6

Wahoo 52, Auburn 6

Lincoln Christian 13, Fremont Bergan 10

David City Aquinas 10, Lincoln Lutheran 7

Lincoln East 28, Lincoln Southwest 7

Central Valley 49, Anselmo-Merna 13

Pierce 53, Arlington 16

North Bend 42, Milford 20

Central City 21, Holdrege 14

South Sioux City 44, Omaha Northwest 0

EPPJ 64, Creighton 8

Elm Creek 38, Loomis 6

Hastings 37, Lincoln Pius X 13

Ogallala 28, Cozad 26

Ainsworth 28, Burwell 0

Elkhorn 27, Omaha Gross 13

Bennington 17, York 6

Hampton 35, Sterling 34

Fullerton 50, Twin River 15

Amherst 38, Chase County 14

Sandhills/Thedford 46, Twin Loup 28

Wahoo Neumann 34, GICC 21

Columbus Scotus 22, St. Paul 20

Humphrey St. Francis 40, Osceola 8

Oakland-Craig 28, Malcolm 20

Dundy County-Stratton 36, Axtell 0

Omaha Westside 45, Bellevue West 12

Pender 31, Wakefield 6

Grand Island Northwest 13, Seward 6

Cross County 84, McCool Junction 18

Ravenna 30, Cambridge 20

Ansley-Litchfield 56, Pleasanton 32

Battle Creek 34, Ord 14

CWC 36, Palmer 28

Harvard 42, Meridian 34

Niobrara/Verdigre 54, Walthill 14

O'Neill 14, West Holt 6

Riverside 54, North Central 26

Schuyler 16, Fairbury 7

South Loup 46, Hitchcock County 0

Fillmore Central 44, Centennial 0

Yutan 28, Hartington Cedar Catholic 6

Minden 28, Kearney Catholic 14

Millard South 56, Millard North 19

Omaha South 33, Omaha Buena Vista 6

Wayne 21, Fort Calhoun 20

Shelby-Rising City 46, Arcadia-Loup City 0

Nebraska Lutheran 38, Falls City Sacred Heart 28

Alma 46, Bertrand 6

Bloomfield 38, Tri-County Northeast 0

Elkhorn South 52, Papillion-La Vista South 14

Lourdes Central Catholic 44, Johnson County Central 28

Lyons-Decatur Northeast 41, Omaha Brownell Talbot 14

Omaha Roncalli 43, Raymond Central 14

Plainview 44, Laurel-Concord-Coleridge 8

Omaha North 40, Columbus 26

Omaha Skutt 57, Beatrice 10

Elkhorn North 57, Crete 6

Ashland-Greenwood 42, Aurora 24

Gretna 27, Omaha Creighton Prep 24 — 2OT

Freeman 38, Conestoga 35

Leyton 60, Morrill 8

Red Cloud 66, Dorchester 14

West Point-Beemer 49, Boys Town 40

Wilcox-Hildreth 44, Southwest 37

Scottsbluff 51, Frederick, Colo. 28

Sandy Creek 64, EMF 62 — 3OT