LINCOLN, Neb. (WOWT) – Gov. Jim Pillen surrounded himself with sheriff’s deputies, police chiefs, law enforcement union leaders, and members of the Revenue Committee at a news conference on his state property tax plan on Monday afternoon.
It was a show of support to public safety as Nebraska’s state property tax is debated at the Unicameral. Lawmakers won’t return to the special session until Wednesday afternoon, but they have been working behind the scenes on possible solutions.
Many mayors — including Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert — have been critical of the Pillen’s plans for a hard cap on budgets, worrying that doing so would eliminate local control and flexibility when it comes to running police and fire departments.
On Monday, the governor vowed that whatever bill comes out, public safety would be excluded from the caps. That was one of Stothert’s main concerns about the original state property tax proposal. But she told 6 News she wants to see the next version of the bill — saying the devil is in the details — before commenting on whether Monday’s announcement changed her mind.
Revenue Committee Chairwoman Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn said that there were a lot of good ideas in the 68 bill they hear. She said the committee is considering a lot of them, but nothing introduced had enough support to get it across the finish line.
The governor explained the findings of Creighton Professor Ernie Goss that the fastest-growing states with the strongest economies have the highest sales taxes and lowest property taxes — and that’s the goal for Nebraska, he said.
Pillen seems to be distancing himself from LB1 — his plan to fix property taxes, that did not have 33 votes — reminding everyone that this is not the governor’s plan. He says whatever advances will be the people’s plan.
So how much property tax relief needs to be achieved for the governor to consider the special session a success?
“I think the number could be variable and I’m looking forward to the legislature figuring that out,” Pillen said.
The governor reminded everyone that these aren’t easy decisions, but they need to be made. He said all 120 exemptions are on the table — several of them are connected to agriculture.
His original plan called on increasing sin taxes, eliminating a host of sales tax exemptions on goods and services, and adding sales tax to soda pop and candy. He also wants the state to fully fund public schools.
Americans For Prosperity Nebraska started a cost clock for the special session, arguing that the governor’s plan is about raising taxes. By its calculation, we surpassed $212,000 on Monday.
—
Get the latest breaking news delivered to your inbox. Sign up for 6 News email alerts.
Copyright 2024 WOWT. All rights reserved.
link