City leaders throughout the state have voiced their opposition to Gov. Jim Pillen’s property tax plan, including five mayors from Sarpy County. In a joint statement, those mayors and four others raised several concerns with the proposed plan, ultimately saying it’s not feasible and the process to get here hasn’t been transparent. Related coverage: State senators await official call for scope of special sessionThe United Cities of Sarpy County include Bellevue, Gretna, La Vista, Papillion, and Springfield. Those cities — along with the mayors of Hastings, Holdredge, Kearney, and Minden — voiced their opposition, stating six key points to provide context as to why they oppose the plan. “You can’t just cut,” Bellevue Mayor Rusty Hike said. “If you cut expenses, you generally try to raise revenue too.”The group made it clear they are on board to cut property taxes but don’t think Pillen’s plan is the way to do it. Several of the mayors told KETV they’ve been left out of the conversation entirely and their cities are the ones that will feel the repercussions if this plan moves forward. “There is no way that this can go on for a long period of time,” La Vista Mayor Doug Kindig said. “I just don’t think it’s a good plan.”‘So out of whack’: Gov. Pillen’s unveils new plan to cut Nebraska property taxes. See the story here. Hike said one of the main issues they found is the fact that the largest landowners will benefit the most, including ones that aren’t even Nebraska citizens.”I might get the tax breaks as a, as a landowner here that I live here, and I have my business here, and I’m giving back to the community,” Hike said. “These other landowners are that are out of state. So they own thousands of acres of ground. They’re getting the tax break and they’re not contributing anything else to Nebraska. So that’s a huge problem.”Hike also said any changes the Legislature comes up with will go into effect immediately, which puts city budgets at risk since the special session is so late in the year.”Our statute says you have to have so many readings on your budget,” Hike said. “So are we expected to try to have special meetings in order to get that done in time to file those this year?”Gretna Mayor Mike Evans said the plan shifts the burden of local revenue to an unstable source: sales tax.”Economies change in their cycles with whether it’s inflation or recessions, everything changes,” Evans said. “And we all saw what happened with the online experience. People started shopping not even in your town. They just went online. There’s so many things and you really bet the bank on just sales tax and hoping the economy stays good and you always have that income we don’t know that that’s a stable and appropriate approach.”The group agreed a holistic approach needs to be considered, saying property taxes are just one part of the overall issue in Nebraska.”One thing that they haven’t looked at here is our state incentive programs,” Kindig said. “Which uses our state and our local sales taxes to incentivize those businesses.”Ultimately all nine mayors are frustrated they haven’t been included in the conversation.”In the state of Nebraska that’s what we do well, we work together, we come up with really good ideas for the greater good, and we really want to be part of this solution,” Evans said. “If we just all get in a silo and do what’s best for what one entity does, then somebody is going to lose somebody is going to win.”Overall, the group wants the process to slow down, so everyone can work together to find a solution that works for every Nebraskan.The mayors listed six main points to why they oppose the governor’s plan, to read the full letter click here.Click here for the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7
City leaders throughout the state have voiced their opposition to Gov. Jim Pillen’s property tax plan, including five mayors from Sarpy County.
In a joint statement, those mayors and four others raised several concerns with the proposed plan, ultimately saying it’s not feasible and the process to get here hasn’t been transparent.
Related coverage: State senators await official call for scope of special session
The United Cities of Sarpy County include Bellevue, Gretna, La Vista, Papillion, and Springfield. Those cities — along with the mayors of Hastings, Holdredge, Kearney, and Minden — voiced their opposition, stating six key points to provide context as to why they oppose the plan.
“You can’t just cut,” Bellevue Mayor Rusty Hike said. “If you cut expenses, you generally try to raise revenue too.”
The group made it clear they are on board to cut property taxes but don’t think Pillen’s plan is the way to do it. Several of the mayors told KETV they’ve been left out of the conversation entirely and their cities are the ones that will feel the repercussions if this plan moves forward.
“There is no way that this can go on for a long period of time,” La Vista Mayor Doug Kindig said. “I just don’t think it’s a good plan.”
‘So out of whack’: Gov. Pillen’s unveils new plan to cut Nebraska property taxes. See the story here.
Hike said one of the main issues they found is the fact that the largest landowners will benefit the most, including ones that aren’t even Nebraska citizens.
“I might get the tax breaks as a, as a landowner here that I live here, and I have my business here, and I’m giving back to the community,” Hike said. “These other landowners are that are out of state. So they own thousands of acres of ground. They’re getting the tax break and they’re not contributing anything else to Nebraska. So that’s a huge problem.”
Hike also said any changes the Legislature comes up with will go into effect immediately, which puts city budgets at risk since the special session is so late in the year.
“Our statute says you have to have so many readings on your budget,” Hike said. “So are we expected to try to have special meetings in order to get that done in time to file those this year?”
Gretna Mayor Mike Evans said the plan shifts the burden of local revenue to an unstable source: sales tax.
“Economies change in their cycles with whether it’s inflation or recessions, everything changes,” Evans said. “And we all saw what happened with the online experience. People started shopping not even in your town. They just went online. There’s so many things and you really bet the bank on just sales tax and hoping the economy stays good and you always have that income we don’t know that that’s a stable and appropriate approach.”
The group agreed a holistic approach needs to be considered, saying property taxes are just one part of the overall issue in Nebraska.
“One thing that they haven’t looked at here is our state incentive programs,” Kindig said. “Which uses our state and our local sales taxes to incentivize those businesses.”
Ultimately all nine mayors are frustrated they haven’t been included in the conversation.
“In the state of Nebraska that’s what we do well, we work together, we come up with really good ideas for the greater good, and we really want to be part of this solution,” Evans said. “If we just all get in a silo and do what’s best for what one entity does, then somebody is going to lose somebody is going to win.”
Overall, the group wants the process to slow down, so everyone can work together to find a solution that works for every Nebraskan.
The mayors listed six main points to why they oppose the governor’s plan, to read the full letter click here.
Click here for the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7
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