LINCOLN — “As a coalition representing homeowners, business owners, farmers and ranchers, taxpayers, and groups across the spectrum of public education, we believe the Nebraska Legislature must work to provide adequate and sustainable funding for high quality education and do so in a way that reduces the overreliance on local property taxes to fund education.”
“Sen. Jim Smith’s legislative proposal to send dollars currently allocated for property tax relief to income tax cuts is a step in the wrong direction. Nebraskans already pay the seventh highest property tax rate in the nation and property taxes account for nearly half (48%) of the total combined collections of property, state sales, (19%), and state income taxes (33%) used to fund education and government in Nebraska. Furthermore, Nebraska ranks 49th among all states in the percentage of K-12 funding that comes from state resources. On average, Nebraska K-12 schools receive half of their funding from local sources, compared to the national average of 29 percent.”
“As our coalition has stated before, continued reductions in state funding for education is at the heart of Nebraska’s property tax issue, not simply school spending. While we support long-term solutions, taking dollars out of the Property Tax Relief Credit Fund to provide income tax cuts is a mistake and hurts taxpayers who are asked to make up for the lack of state funding for education through higher property taxes. State mandates account for 70 to 80 percent of school budgets. It is not unreasonable for our elected leaders to tackle this issue head-on instead of kicking the can further down the road.”
“A well-educated workforce is essential for economic development and a high quality of life in Nebraska. Our coalition is committed to working with the Legislature to find solutions to our state’s property tax problem.”
Nebraskans United includes property owners, ag and education groups, school board members, superintendents (representing all school districts across the state), and other taxpayers across Nebraska who have come together to urge the legislature to act this year to balance the state’s property tax system and reduce the overreliance on property taxes to adequately fund K-12 education. Nebraska needs a more equitable system to fund the state’s education priorities.
Nebraskans United for Property Tax Reform and Education includes:
Nebraska Farm Bureau Nebraska State Education Association
Reform for Nebraska’s Future Nebraska Council of School Administrators
Nebraska Corn Growers Association Nebraska Farmers Union
Women Involved in Farm Economics Nebraska Soybean Association
Nebraska Pork Producers The Nebraska Wheat Growers
Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association Nebraska Fair
Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska Gage County Property Tax Group
Greater Nebraska Schools Association: Bellevue, Bennington, Blair, Columbus, Elkhorn, Fremont, Gering,
Grand Island, Gretna, Hastings, Kearney, Lexington, Lincoln, McCook, Millard, Norfolk, Norris, North Platte, Omaha,
Papillion-La Vista, Plattsmouth, Ralston, Schuyler, South Sioux City, Westside Community Public Schools.
Schools Taking Action for Nebraska Children’s Education: Beatrice, Blair, Chadron, Columbus, Crete,
Fairbury, Gothenburg, Holdrege, Nebraska City, Norris, Seward, South Sioux City, Wahoo, Waverly, York Public Schools.
— Mike Lucas, Nebraskans United for Property Tax Reform and Education
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