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A Flurry of Fraud: City Clerks Have Recently Stolen Money from 17 Nebraska Towns

By Addie Costello Flatwater Free Press Over and over again, Steve Sharp told the village clerk that she deserved a raise. When Sharp was elected chairperson of the village board in 2010, Mary Terry had already worked as Cedar Creek’s village clerk and treasurer for nearly a decade. Terry controlled Cedar Creek’s finances, records, utilities...

Report rewards Nebraska’s peers moving to flat income taxes

Nebraska ranks 36th in economic outlook according to the 2022 Rich States, Poor States report. The annual report ranks states for economic competitiveness using a comprehensive analysis of economic policy factors. While public policies aren’t the only factor for economic growth, they are some of the most controllable factors for states. Nebraska’s current ranking is lackluster,...

By Michael Lucci

3 Building Blocks for More Housing in Nebraska

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Nebraska communities of all sizes were experiencing housing shortages, and from 2008 to 2018, Nebraska saw the 6th fastest increase in home prices among all states. That’s why the Blueprint Nebraska economic initiative has set the goal of increasing the housing supply and making our state a national leader for...

By Jim Vokal

Nebraska’s Primary Problem, with Unite America’s Tyler Fisher

Election policy expert Tyler Fisher, from the nonpartisan reform group Unite America, joins Jim Vokal to discuss why state and federal election systems often incentivize policy outcomes that leave most Americans dissatisfied, and what Nebraska can do to give the majority of voters more say in who represents them in Lincoln and Washington. A transcript...

Nebraska unemployment rate dips below 2%

Nebraska picked up 1,900 non-farm payroll jobs in April according to new monthly data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The state jobless rate fell to 1.9%, keeping Nebraska tied with Utah for the lowest jobless rate in the nation. Overall, Nebraska showed gains on both surveys that make up the monthly jobs report, and...

By Michael Lucci

Strong revenues give Nebraska fuel for more tax reform

A gusher of tax revenues poured into Nebraska state coffers in April, creating an unexpected revenue bump for the month when most Nebraskans file their annual tax returns. Revenues were strong across the board, with a surge in personal and corporate income taxes more than covering a slight underperformance in sales tax revenues. Nebraska’s surprisingly...

By Michael Lucci

Nebraska Broadband Progress Report with Commissioner Mary Ridder, Mike Hybl & Jim Ediger

On a special episode of Nebraskanomics, Jim Smith asks three experts on telecommunications and regulation about the state’s progress on grant programs that expand broadband connectivity. Nebraska Public Service Commissioner Mary Ridder, Nebraska Legislature Transportation and Telecommunications Committee Legal Counsel Mike Hybl, and Hamilton Communications General Counsel Jim Ediger are our guests. A transcript of...

Nebraska’s 2022 tax cuts: What’s good & what’s not

Nebraska entered the 2022 legislative session with its tax code ranked 35th in structural competitiveness, according to Tax Foundation’s 2022 State Business Tax Climate Index. The state will likely improve its position over the coming years as a result of tax changes made in LB873. However, projections show the state may only edge closer to...

By Michael Lucci

Go big for Nebraska’s small towns and businesses

Republished from Nebraska Examiner Even people born in Nebraska might struggle to find the village of Ohiowa on a state map. But this community of about 100 residents in Fillmore County has been host to visitors from all over the world, many who found their way thanks to Lazy Horse Brewing and Winery. The drinking and...

By Laura Ebke

Speaker Mike Hilgers and Jim Vokal discuss Nebraska small business on Tech Forward Webcast

How are small businesses in Nebraska using technology to respond to today’s economic challenges? Nebraska Legislature Speaker Mike Hilgers and Platte Institute CEO Jim Vokal were among the guests in a recent Tech Forward Webcast hosted by 3C, the Connected Commerce Council. The program featured Nebraska small business leaders discussing the tools that are helping...

Platte Institute names new chair who will help guide Blueprint Nebraska growth plan

by Cindy Gonzalez, Nebraska Examiner North Platte, Nebraska, businessman Pat Keenan, whose career began in the soft drink industry, has been elected chairman of the nonprofit Platte Institute board of directors. Among the organization’s responsibilities is helping to activate economic initiatives in Blueprint Nebraska, a plan led by business and civic leaders to stimulate economic...

Nebraska continues towards full jobs recovery from pandemic recession

Nebraska gained 400 non-farm payroll jobs in March and its unemployment rate fell from 2.1% to 2.0%, according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The low unemployment rate ties Nebraska with Utah as the states with the lowest jobless rates. In addition, Nebraska’s strong February jobs gain was revised slightly upwards, thus...

By Michael Lucci

Get the facts about Nebraska’s high tax burden

Two factors determine a state’s overall tax competitiveness. The first factor is the total tax burden, measured as a portion of state income. The second factor is the structure of the state’s tax code – the manner in which those revenues are collected. The goal for tax competitiveness in Nebraska, then, is to maintain a...

By Michael Lucci

Laura Ebke on Solutions for Nebraska’s Worker Shortage

Platte Institute Senior Fellow Laura Ebke says there’s more the state can do to welcome workers with career and military experience to join Nebraska’s workforce. A transcript of this episode is available below. If you’d like to watch this episode on YouTube, press play. Or you can listen to the podcast on Spotify or Apple...