By Senator Tom Brewer
This past week I was invited to attend the Garfield County commissioners meeting. It was good to be in Burwell again. They were very interested in hearing about what the special session of the legislature did to lower property taxes. They were especially interested in the caps placed on local units of government ability to raise spending. I imagine most of Nebraska’s 93 counties, and 244 school districts and all the other government we have that relies on their ability to levy, collect, and spend property taxes, are all just as concerned.
The Governor’s goal to lower property taxes 40% was ambitious. I’m glad he had the political courage to call it. Sadly, it is certainly hard if not impossible to accomplish great big changes in public policy in a special session. Changing how we tax Nebraskans is the biggest change I can think of.
That said, very modest reductions in property taxes will occur next year, while protecting local units of government ability to respond to disasters and maintain public safety. I believe the citizens of Nebraska must take a greater interest in who is representing them in our Unicameral Legislature. It is important to remember that 75% of the votes in the body come from Lincoln and Omaha. Much depends on the 109th Legislature we elect this November. The special session was the beginning of the discussion of taxation in Nebraska, not the end.
The aspects of future reductions in property taxes will share some similarities. Whatever the next legislature passes to continue reducing property taxes will take eight or ten years. Citizens should be patient. The financial hole we are in is deep and will take years to get out of. Eventually, the next senior class of senators will reach the conclusion Nebraska needs to end our income tax and shift more of the revenue burden onto sales taxes. Every single state without an income tax has growing populations, and a growing tax base. Every state with an income tax has stagnate, or falling population growth and a shrinking tax base.
I have always supported the EPIC consumption tax idea. I think more senators have slowly changed their opinion about this. Support for the idea has grown, but still short of the votes needed. Perhaps a hybrid idea will emerge next year. It’s clear at least one form of taxation in Nebraska must end.
Please contact my office with any comments, questions, or concerns. Email me at tbrewer@leg.ne.gov, mail a letter to Sen. Tom Brewer, Room #1423, P.O. Box 94604, Lincoln, NE 68509, or call us at (402) 471-2628.