Nebraska Legislature approves some funding for budget package

A two-year budget package continues to make it’s way through approval in the legislature.

“What we accomplished this morning was we got the $25 million back so we got money back for the property tax credit, it’s just part of the package, not the whole package,” Sen. Lou Ann Linehan said.

The budget package includes property tax credits, additional money for expanding medicaid and more aid for K-12 schools. It also raises sales tax on 20 services that are currently exempt.

Linehan says the bill that left the revenue committee is the same bill that’s on the floor.

“The larger school districts who get the line share of the equalization aid now seem to be concerned and I don’t see why they are concerned, some people on the revenue committee have a better understanding than I do, so we are going to try and meet with them over the next couple days and try to address those concerns,” Linehan said.

“So I’m raising taxes on the people that I represent and yet they’re getting less money and less resources for their schools and for their community.” Sen. Adam Morfeld said. “That doesn’t make sense.”

A member of the appropriations committee says the package is what a budget package for the state of our size should be.

“It adequately funds a number of state priorities, not everything in it is the way I would put it all together, but I think it represents sincere compromise of rural and urban senators for different backgrounds and different philosophies,” Sen. Kate Bolz said.

Gov. Pete Ricketts released a statement after the legislature voted to restore property tax relief to the Property Tax Credit Relief Fund.

“Property tax relief is my top priority and I applaud State Senators for restoring the full $51 million in property tax relief I recommended in my budget,” Ricketts said.