Committee holds executive session on Linehan’s tax bill

Sen. Lou Ann Linehan’s property tax relief bill continues to be a hot issue at the Capitol.

It would raise sales taxes and remove some sales tax exemptions in order to provide property tax relief.

On Wednesday, the Revenue Committee saw seven hours of testimony during its hearing on the bill, the majority speaking against it.

So on Thursday, the committee held an executive session.

“I assumed we needed a little session to vent and I think that worked out very well,” Linehan said.

She said she wasn’t surprised by the wave of opposition the night before, but that there wasn’t enough testimony from supporters, like farmers and homeowners.

“We didn’t have very many people who are looking at their property tax bill, trying to figure out how they’re going to stay in their house,” she said.  “It’s not because they don’t want to pay their fair share, it’s they can’t.”

She said Thursday’s executive session was an opportunity to voice that concern.

“Especially people on fixed incomes who have bought and paid for their house,” Linehan said.  “Now their property tax bill is as much as their mortgage was.”

She said during the session other senators said they were concerned her proposal was too complicated and that funding sources wouldn’t be enough for certain school districts.

Sen. Tom Briese of Albion said he thinks Linehan’s bill is a good proposal, but that he has some reservations about it.

“For me, the bill is going to have to protect the Property Tax Credit Fund,” Briese said.  “The Property Tax Credit Fund is guaranteed property tax relief for all Nebraskans: Homeowners, commercial business owners, ag producers alike.”

Linehan said they’re holding another executive session on this bill tomorrow morning, this way they can go over all the proposals they’ve looked at before.

She said she hopes to have the bill on the legislative floor by next week.