OMAHA- Smokers and vapers in the Omaha area will help pay for a new $2.19 billion academic medical facility at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, but the city's tobacco tax revenue won't start flowing to the university yet. Omaha's mayor and City Council previously pledged to contribute up to $45 million over 10 years to Project NExT, a joint effort between the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the Nebraska Medical Center.

The money is to come from the city's 3% occupation tax on tobacco and vaping products. As of right now, Omaha's tobacco tax revenue will go into the city's general fund, but will be primarily used to help pay for a city parking garage and street work in support of UNMC's campus development. According to UNMC Chancellor Dr. Jeffrey Gold, construction on the academic building itself could begin in 2025.

"A lot depends on finalizing the funding stack, because we will not go forward to intermediate design review with the Board of Regents, of course, until every last dollar is committed," said Gold, But we're getting there. We're getting closer and closer." According to Assistant City Attorney Jennifer Taylor, the City of Omaha is committed to providing 15% of what the state contributed to the project.

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