GOV RICKETTS SPEAKS AT PROPERTY TAX RELIEF TOWN HALL

NTF worksheet: legwatch177.doc. 4-19.
GOVERNOR PETE RICKETTS SPEAKS TO NTF AT PROPERTY TAX RELIEF TOWN HALL: APRIL 20, 2019.

He encouraged taxpayers to examine findings of Blueprint NE on taxes.
Legislature must control spending.
Prior to his administration, 6.2% growth in spending per year.
Now, the spending growth is .05% per year and 2.3% in his biennial budget.
He has reduced increased spending by over 90%.
We must stop the spending cycle.
State already sends $2 billion in aid to local governments.
Spending lids do not work because they become diluted or eliminated.

Farmers have suffered 162% increases in property taxes.
There are 2,581 property taxing entities in NE, not counting SIDs.
Governor has increased property tax relief at the state level.
He doubled the property tax credit fund by $275 million.
His proposed constitutional amendment to limit the increase in property tax increases by 3% squashed by Legislature.

LB 289 would be the largest tax increase in NE history, $200 million.
It would totally eliminate his property tax credits.
All the increased tax $$ would go to public schools.
The bill deals only with education funding.
LB 289 will only continue additional spending.
There are no spending controls over other local taxing authorities in the bill.
Starting at a 1990 baseline, public schools annual tax growth is higher than the rate of state aid to schools and the rate of growth of students in our public schools.
Public schools have increased their spending by 40% during this period, and no property tax relief.
No matter how much state aid increases to public schools, school spending by property taxation continues to rise.
His handouts distributed to everyone illustrated the above points.

To gain property tax relief, contact your state senator.
Testify against tax hike bills and for bills that control spending.
Support the Governor’s constitutional amendment. Lobby to pull his amendment from the Revenue Committee; 25 senator votes needed to do so.
Vote for conservative legislative candidates.

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