Latest news with #Omaha-area
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alternative Nebraska budget would repurpose, eliminate 16% of property tax relief
State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha leads a listening session for Lincoln residents on property taxes. She is flanked by State Sens. Terrell McKinney of Omaha and Lynne Walz of Fremont. July 22, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — As debate on Nebraska's budget for the next two years begins, one state lawmaker has proposed a counter budget that would eliminate about 16% in anticipated property tax relief. State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha filed amendments Tuesday to defund the property tax credit meant to offset local school district taxes, which as of last fall became automatic on annual property tax statements. Next year, that fund will grow to $780 million and will grow again by $38 million in the following fiscal year. Eliminated tax relief Cavanaugh, a first-time member of the Appropriations Committee, seeks to instead direct about 58% of the $780 million total next year, or $455 million, toward more aid to schools, indirectly lowering property taxes. School district maximum property tax rates would fall from $1.05 to 80 cents, mirroring proposals from Gov. Jim Pillen and State Sen. Jana Hughes of Seward during the most recent special session on property taxes and again in this year's Legislative Bill 303. Another 26% of the property tax credit total, $203 million, would be directed to counties, aimed at reimbursing them for the expenses of operating local jails. Cavanaugh's proposal would not touch the $422 million planned next year for a separate property tax credit fund that directly offsets property taxes based on valuations. The remainder is $122 million that would be directed to other priorities, including investments in public health, public safety, court services and preventing sweeps of certain cash funds to shore up the funds. 'Solution to a manufactured budget crisis' The core budget bills are LBs 261 and 264 that the Appropriations Committee advanced with Cavanaugh as a lone 'no' vote. While lawmakers must budget for the next two years, Cavanaugh limited the breakdown of her amendments to just the next fiscal year. While declining to answer certain follow-up questions on her proposal, Cavanaugh said her budget would be balanced over the biennium. 'These amendments are a responsible solution to a manufactured budget crisis,' Cavanaugh said in a statement. 'They protect working families, ensure our schools and health systems remain strong, and invest in community-based justice — all without shifting the burden onto Nebraskans through tax hikes or reckless cuts.' Five Omaha-area senators and two lawmakers from Lincoln and Bellevue host a listening session on property taxes in Omaha on Sunday, July 21, 2024. From left, State Sens. Carol Blood, Christy Armendariz, Jane Raybould, Merv Riepe, Terrell McKinney, John Cavanaugh and Machaela Cavanaugh. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) Separately, the conservative-leaning, free market-focused Platte Institute also proposed a budget alternative that includes 'freezing' the school district property tax credits and a separate fund for property tax relief at current levels. That would save about $162 million over the next two years. Cavanaugh's budget amendments also would take $135 million from the planned Perkins County Canal in western Nebraska and about $150 million set aside for a new state prison. About $100 million would be invested in the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln 'for comprehensive renovation, modernization and improvement,' while the other amount would be invested elsewhere. Targeted investments Among Cavanaugh's top priorities is preserving or investing: $28.7 million for the Vocational and Life Skills Programming Fund. $15.3 million for behavioral health. $10 million for food banks. $8 million for the Nebraska Water Sustainability Fund. $8 million for the Education Future Fund (retaining an annual $250 million transfer). $5 million for the Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation Fund. $5 million for the State Park Cash Revolving Fund. $4 million for the Middle Income Workforce Housing Investment Fund. $3.5 million for local public health departments. $3 million for domestic violence housing. $1.3 million for state specialized courts (such as problem-solving or veterans courts). $1.2 million for the Economic Recovery Contingency Fund. $1.2 million for court interpreters. $999,422 for probation community corrections. $500,000 for federally qualified health centers. $373,840 for juvenile justice. $284,738 for the Office of Public Guardian. Cavanaugh proposes to also fund all state 'code agencies,' those under the governor's direct oversight, at each agency's full appropriations request. All other state agencies would get a budget increase of up to 2.5% next year. She declined to say what the overall spending increase would be compared to the proposed Appropriations Committee budget. For example, Cavanaugh would give the University of Nebraska $50.6 million more than the Appropriations Committee proposed over the next two years — adding up to a $63.7 million bump for NU. The Attorney General's Office would be held flat, which comes as progressives such as Cavanaugh or State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln have scrutinized its spending. Similar to the advanced budget bills, Cavanaugh proposes to sweep money from at least 60 cash funds, but she declined to detail the total savings. 'These are not just line items — they are lifelines,' Cavanaugh said. 'We're choosing to invest in people, protect long-term reserves and lay a foundation for future prosperity.' 'We have to do what we can' Multiple senators said the Cavanaugh amendments were dead on arrival as property tax relief rises among a top issue for constituents, even though it is assessed locally. State Sen. Paul Strommen of Sidney meets with his staff on the floor of the Nebraska Legislature. March 26, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) Pillen, too, has set his sights on increased property tax relief after the budget is balanced, saying in a recent interview with the Nebraska Examiner that he is '100% confident' that the Legislature can balance the budget and keep growth in statewide property taxes flat. That comes in the face of what has in two of the past three years been an annual increase of $300 million. Last year, for the first time in 26 years, property taxes decreased by $6 million from a $5.3 billion total. State Sen. Paul Strommen of Sidney, a freshman on the Appropriations Committee, said he has learned this year that part of his committee's role is balancing taxes and state services, not choosing one over another. Like many senators, he said the top concern for constituents is tax relief. 'At the end of the day, we just have to figure out what we can do to balance all of that,' Strommen said. 'Not everybody's going to be happy, but we have to do what we can.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Greater Omaha Chamber joins national coalition resurrected to fight for federal research funds
A group exits the Durham Research Center at the UNMC campus. (Courtesy of University of Nebraska Medical Center) OMAHA — The Greater Omaha Chamber has joined forces with more than 50 business organizations and chambers of commerce nationally to advocate for the rescue of research funding in the federal budget. The local chamber announced, in a media release, its participation in the relaunch of the Business for Federal Research Funding Coalition. Nearly 30 states are represented so far. 'Federal research funding is one of the best investments we can make in America's future,' said Heath Mello, president and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber. 'It drives groundbreaking innovation, fuels job creation, strengthens our national competitiveness and directly impacts the Omaha region.' Formed in 2017, the national coalition went dormant during the Biden Administration, a chamber official said, because funding levels for federal research were sufficient. Now the nonpartisan coalition of business organizations 'from red, blue and purple states' will once again engage members of Congress and the Trump Administration to reinforce the stance that research funding 'strengthens our nation's economy and competitiveness.' The Omaha-area chamber represents nearly 3,000 member businesses. Representatives said the University of Nebraska system last year received more than $113 million, and Omaha-based Creighton University received nearly $8.3 million in National Institute of Health grants. Investments in research have led to major breakthroughs in innovation, new technologies, life-saving medical treatments and millions of jobs, the chamber release said. The BFRF said that nationally, $36.9 billion in NIF grants awarded to researchers in 2024 supported 407,782 jobs and generated $94.5 in economic activity. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nebraska ‘winner-take-all' electoral measure fails in Legislature
The Nebraska Legislature killed a bill Tuesday that aimed to unify the state's Electoral College votes behind one candidate after its existing split method drew national interest during the 2024 election cycle. Nebraska doles out some of its Electoral College votes based on outcomes in individual congressional districts, but many Republicans — including Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen and President Trump — pushed this year to adopt a more traditional winner-take-all approach, in which the presidential candidate with the highest tally statewide would receive all five of the state's Electoral College votes. Lawmakers who opposed the change, which likely would have stopped Nebraskans in the Omaha-area swing district from influencing future presidential elections, filibustered for nearly four hours to block the legislation, and the conservative majority in the nonpartisan Legislature was unable to muster enough votes to end the stalling tactic. Pillen, who also unsuccessfully pushed the Legislature to pass a winner-take-all measure ahead of last year's election, said in a statement he is 'deeply disappointed' by the latest bill's failure. 'I continue to believe that it is critical to pass [winner-take-all] to strengthen Nebraska's voice in presidential elections,' he said. 'There have been many efforts to fix it in the last 30 years, and I will continue to work with allies in the Legislature to get this done in time for the 2028 election.' Pillen also decried the filibuster's role in killing the measure, arguing the bill 'should have received a fair up-or-down vote.' 'Nebraskans expect and deserve principled, straightforward consistency from their elected leaders, and I'm disappointed that the Legislature fell short of those expectations with its failure today,' he said. The change could still happen if voters approve a proposed constitutional amendment Republicans are trying to get on the ballot. The Legislature would have to first agree to the ballot measure, though. 'While it would be a surprise if that resolution came to the floor this year, we'll remain vigilant and ready to continue advocating for a system that values every Nebraskan's vote,' Civic Nebraska, a nonpartisan voter advocacy group in the state, said after Tuesday's vote. Nebraska's swing district, which has been dubbed the 'Blue Dot' because it voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024 and former President Biden in 2020 while the rest of the reliably red state backed Trump, drew national attention last fall as Harris and Trump were thought to be in a head-to-head battle to win the election, where every Electoral College vote could influence the national outcome. Pillen, an ardent Trump supporter, and other allies of the president have pushed for a return to the winner-take-all method that Nebraska backed away from three decades ago. Trump also reportedly pressed Republican lawmakers, who had been cool to the proposal. Pillen, who was elected in 2022 after Trump endorsed his GOP opponent, is mulling a run for a second term next year. After the previous attempt at winner-take-all failed last fall, Trump thanked Pillen on social media for his efforts. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
09-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Nebraska ‘winner-take-all' electoral measure fails in legislature
The Nebraska Legislature killed a bill Tuesday that aimed to unify the state's Electoral College votes behind one candidate after its existing split method drew national interest during the 2024 election cycle. Nebraska doles out some of its Electoral College votes based on outcomes in individual congressional districts, but many Republicans — including Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen and President Trump — pushed this year to adopt a more traditional winner-take-all (WTA) approach, in which the presidential candidate with the highest tally statewide would receive all five of the state's Electoral College votes. Lawmakers who opposed the change, which likely would have stopped Nebraskans in the Omaha-area swing district from influencing future presidential elections, filibustered for nearly four hours to block the legislation, and the GOP majority in the technically nonpartisan Legislature was unable to muster enough votes to end the stalling tactic. Pillen, who also unsuccessfully pushed the Legislature to pass a winner-take-all measure ahead of last year's election, said in a statement that he is 'deeply disappointed' by the latest bill's failure. 'I continue to believe that it is critical to pass WTA to strengthen Nebraska's voice in presidential elections,' he said. 'There have been many efforts to fix it in the last 30 years, and I will continue to work with allies in the Legislature to get this done in time for the 2028 election.' Pillen also decried the filibuster's role in killing the measure, arguing that the bill 'should have received a fair up-or-down vote.' 'Nebraskans expect and deserve principled, straightforward consistency from their elected leaders, and I'm disappointed that the Legislature fell short of those expectations with its failure today,' he said. The change could still happen if voters approve a proposed constitutional amendment that Republicans are trying to get on the ballot. The Legislature would have to first agree to the ballot measure, though. 'While it would be a surprise if that resolution came to the floor this year, we'll remain vigilant and ready to continue advocating for a system that values every Nebraskan's vote,' Civic Nebraska, a nonpartisan voter advocacy group in the state, said after Tuesday's vote. Nebraska's swing district, which has been dubbed the 'Blue Dot' because it voted for Democratic candidates Kamala Harris in 2024 and Joe Biden in 2020 while the rest of the reliably red state backed Trump, drew national attention last fall as Harris and Trump were thought to be in a head-to-head battle to win the election, where every Electoral College vote could influence the national outcome. Pillen, an ardent Trump supporter, and other allies of the president have pushed for a return to the winner-take-all method that Nebraska backed away from three decades ago. Trump, himself, also reportedly pressed Republican lawmakers, who had been cool to the proposal. Pillen, who was elected in 2022 after Trump endorsed his GOP opponent, is mulling a run for a second term next year. After the previous attempt at winner-take-all failed last fall, Trump thanked Pillen on social media for his efforts.
