Gov. Jim Pillen visited Lochland Country Club Friday as part of a statewide town hall tour as he asks citizens to support his property tax relief ideas. Pillen has proposed a special session of the Nebraska Legislature focusing on property tax relief and encouraged constituents to contact every state senator to get their support.
He said the state needs to reduce property taxes and pitched ideas that could be fleshed out during the special session. “We can run government like a business,” he said. “We need to decrease spending and improve service.
” Pillen shared various ideas to mitigate property taxes, but said a formal plan hasn’t been created. “Our plan is a living, breathing document, and it’s evolving,” he said. Spending reductions are one of the main pillars.
He said about 20% of county government spending is associated with unfunded mandates. He believes that if the mandates were eliminated, county governments would be able to reduce spending, which in turn would result in lower property taxes. Pillen wants the state to take over funding public schools.
Since school districts account for the bulk of property taxes, shifting that burden to the state would lessen the burden on landowners. To make that transition work, Pillen said, lawmakers would need to put a hard cap on increases to keep costs under control. He said school districts also cope with mandates that have no impact on the education of students.
Clearing those out can help districts save on ad.
