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Nebraska Farm Bureau offers ‘full support’ for tax relief package
Nebraska Farm Bureau president Steve Nelson discusses his organization’s support of LB947 during a news conference at the Nebraska State Capitol.
Nebraska Farm Bureau is giving its “full support” to LB947, the tax reform package on the floor of the Nebraska Unicameral that is also supported by Governor Pete Ricketts.
The bill would provide ag property owners and homeowners with refundable tax credits to offset some of their property taxes.
Farm Bureau president Steve Nelson says the bill provides significant property tax relief and addresses many of the organization’s goals.
“We’ve said that we want a solution that puts us on a path toward long-term relief for all property tax payers. LB947 does that,” Nelson says. “And we’ve said that we want relief as soon as possible. LB947 starts us on a path of additional property tax relief in the 2018 tax year.”
At the same time, Nelson says, Farm Bureau will continue to support a property tax ballot initiative, in the event the legislature fails to pass LB947.
“With that said, I can tell you that if LB947, as amended by the committee, is signed into law, we have indicated to Governor Ricketts that the Nebraska Farm Bureau will divert its resources from the ballot measure and full invest those resources to work with him, the legislature, the Chambers of Commerce, the education community and others, to address the way we fund public schools and the way those funds are spent,” Nelson says.
The ballot initiative calls for property tax relief through a state income tax refund or credit equal to 50 percent of local school property taxes paid by Nebraska taxpayers.
Nelson spoke at a news conference hosted by Ricketts. Representatives of the state’s soybean, dairy and pork producer associations were also on hand for the event.
AUDIO: Excerpts from the news conference, hosted by Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts
Douglas Kagan
May 5 at 3:44pm ·
Profiles in Good Government: Though a petition failed, the fight goes on! Property Owners! Rally with other homeowners and farmers at the Property Tax Rally on Sat. May 19, 11 AM to 2 PM, Walnut Grove Park, 150th & Q Streets, Omaha. Hear the plan by conservative state senators to introduce new legislation to lower our property taxes, with a possible new petition drive. Liberals in the Legislature don’t want to lower our property taxes. But urban & rural Nebraskans no longer will tolerate confiscatory property taxes. Join the NE Taxpayers for Freedom Rally on May 19!