Discriminatory Taxes Make Unreliable Revenue Sources
Discriminatory Taxes Make Unreliable Revenue Sources
As Nebraska lawmakers work to close a revenue gap and consider additional property tax relief, they should focus on revenue sources with the wherewithal to produce revenue over time. Unfortunately, the tobacco tax hike proposed in an amendment 603 to LB 170 not only would fail to be an enduring revenue source, it would risk...
By Michael Lucci
Fix Nebraska’s Truth In Taxation Timeline and Tax Rate Rollback
Fix Nebraska’s Truth In Taxation Timeline and Tax Rate Rollback
Nebraska’s property tax ranks 45th in the nation for overall property tax competitiveness, according to the Tax Foundation’s annual state rankings. One reason that Nebraska’s property tax is so uncompetitive is because the overall property tax burden is so high and because Nebraska’s property tax caps are too loose. These problems are interrelated. Over time, effective...
By Michael Lucci
Eliminate ESU and TPP for the Next $300mm of Property Tax Relief
Eliminate ESU and TPP for the Next $300mm of Property Tax Relief
K-12 school districts account for over $3 billion of all Nebraska property tax collections, making up 60% of the whole. So if lawmakers are looking to deliver tax relief, school district property taxes are a natural target. Lawmakers have used tools from tax credits (beginning with 2020’s LB 1107) to new education funding (such as...
By Michael Lucci
The Power of Community College Dual Enrollment: A Roadmap to Student Success in Nebraska
The Power of Community College Dual Enrollment: A Roadmap to Student Success in Nebraska
Education is the cornerstone of opportunity, and in Nebraska, community college Dual Enrollment has emerged as a game-changer for high school students. By allowing students to earn college credits while still in high school, Dual Enrollment not only accelerates academic achievement but also fosters long-term success in higher education and beyond. For the past five...
By Randy Schmailzl
Open Enrollment Opportunity
Open Enrollment Opportunity
Today, district school boundaries determine where kids go to school and in return, their educational outcomes. This process in Nebraska separates families and kids from educational options that may better suit their needs in the public-school setting. Unfortunately, in Nebraska, students and families may be turned away from another district if they decide their neighborhood...
By Jim Vokal
Education Service Units Property Tax Relief
Education Service Units Property Tax Relief
Nebraskans want property tax relief, and lawmakers continue to seek options to deliver tax relief without fueling local government overspending. And unlike in the flush revenue years of 2021-2023, lawmakers also face tightening budgets in upcoming fiscal years. One option for property tax relief is to continue removing smaller property tax levies altogether. For example,...
By Michael Lucci
Nebraska Tops Charts for K-12 Property Tax Reliance
Nebraska Tops Charts for K-12 Property Tax Reliance
Nebraska policymakers have been focused on property tax relief for 5 years, and for good reason. According to Tax Foundation’s most recent analysis, Nebraska’s property taxes are the eighth-highest in the country and higher than any neighboring state. Tax Foundation calculated Nebraska’s average effective property tax rate to be 1.44% in 2022. This rate is...
By Michael Lucci
Nebraska Revenue Committee Must Be Ready for Reconciliation
Nebraska Revenue Committee Must Be Ready for Reconciliation
Nebraska’s Revenue Committee faces an unusual challenge this year. Federal lawmakers are likely to change the federal tax code in ways that will impact Nebraska’s revenue streams, and the federal changes will occur during the legislative session. Speaker Mike Johnson announced his intent to pass President Trump’s budgetary agenda within 100 days through the budgetary...
By Michael Lucci
109th Nebraska Legislature Issue Guide
109th Nebraska Legislature Issue Guide
The Platte Institute’s Legislative Issue Guide for the 109th Legislature provides a concise and up-to-date public policy guide for state and local policymakers. The topics included in this guide reflect public policy best practices targeted at reducing barriers to economic opportunity in the 2025-26 biennium and beyond. To download the full Legislative Issue Guide for...
By Nicole Fox