Lincoln, Neb. — Gov. Pete Ricketts is asking lawmakers for $58.6 million in emergency state funding to help pay for medical and cleaning supplies, tests, employee overtime and other expenses needed to respond to the new coronavirus pandemic as the number of Nebraska cases rises.
Ricketts presented the new budget request to legislators Friday afternoon. Lawmakers will return to the Capitol on Monday to consider the package.
Ricketts says the money would come from the states emergency fund, which is designed for budget crunches and one-time expenses.
His announcement comes as eightmore cases of COVID-10 were identified in Nebraska, including the first in Lincoln. The new total in Nebraska on Friday was 37.
