HASTINGS, Neb. – The city of Hastings' 2024-25 fiscal year budget is approved, which now includes funding for an addition to the city's airport.

On Monday night, council members voted 8-0 in favor on the budget's second reading, which also passed 8-0 last Monday.

The council also voted unanimously to suspend the rules and skip the third reading, to pass the budget.

A new portion of the budget will allocate $750,000 to build a new hangar to house a jet at the Hastings Municipal Airport.

"By having a jet, our status as a local airport would become a regional airport, which affords the city more funds to support the airport." said acting City Administrator Mark Funkey. 

By becoming a regional airport, Hastings would also qualify for federal grant money, like airports in Kearney, Grand Island and North Platte.

Funkey said building the hangar would be a capital project, but won't begin construction until the city has an interested party in housing its jet there.

According to city documents, the upcoming fiscal year budget is about $1.5 million less expensive than last year, and will be $212,602,171.

The city property tax rate will drop from .4243 to .3948 cents per 100 dollars, which is the lowest rate in the past 10 years.

Passing the budget was the only agenda item for the council last night, who adjourned after 20 minutes of discussion and voting.

All city budgets statewide must be submitted by September 30, and will go into effect on October 1.