Governor Ricketts prioritizes property tax relief in State of the State address

Governor Pete Ricketts plans to provide property tax relief while still keeping spending under control, he said in his State of the State address.

He told state legislators Tuesday morning that Nebraskans across the state worry about high property taxes.

He outlined three proposals to provide relief.

“First my budget provides 51 million dollars in new direct property tax relief federal fund each year,” Ricketts said. “This is a 23 percent increase from this fund to all Nebraska property owners.”

He said he’s also hoping to implement a mandate that 275 million dollars has to be in that fund, to provide certainty to property owners that relief is coming.

“Third, I’m proposing a three percent cap on property taxes levied by local governments,” Ricketts said.

A new state senator, Senator Tom Brandt, of Crete, said this plan would help his constituents out a lot.

“People in my district are very concerned first and foremost about property tax relief,” Brandt said. “A number of new senators including myself are very focused on this.”

Ricketts also provided full funding for initiative Medicaid Expansion, which was passed by Nebraska voters in November.

He said this required them to reduce funding in other areas of the budget.

“It’s about priorities,” Ricketts said. “People in Nebraska voted for Initiative 427 so we had to fund it, but it definitely meant less money for everybody else.”

Senator Adam Morfeld, of Lincoln, said funding Medicaid isn’t a sacrifice, and will help 90,000 Nebraskans get insurance.

“If we take a hard look at tax incentive programs we know are not effective, if we look at sunsetting sales tax exemptions we can achieve tax relief and also insure Nebraskans,” Morfeld said.

Ricketts said even with tax relief and Medicaid in his proposed budget, spending is only increasing marginally.

“The proposal is growing at 3.1% and still funds priorities for the state,” Ricketts said.

Other top priorities Ricketts mentioned is developing Nebraska’s jobs and future employees, with programs like his proposed Nebraska Talent Scholarship.

Cutting regulatory red tape, he suggests combining the environmental quality department and the energy department, as an example of how to be more efficient.

He also wants to continue to promote Nebraska nationally and internationally.

To read Governor Rickett’s entire address click here: https://governor.nebraska.gov/press/gov-ricketts-state-state-address