The Full Platter

Mark your calendar for Nebraska property tax hearings

Mark your calendar for Nebraska property tax hearings

In September, every taxpayer who has at least one taxing entity on their bill participating in a Truth in Taxation hearing will receive a mailed postcard with public hearing information. Legally, all hearings must be held after 6 p.m. between September 17 and 28, and postcards must be in the mail 7 days before a...

By Adam Weinberg

Make Nebraska property taxes honest with Truth in Taxation

Make Nebraska property taxes honest with Truth in Taxation

Want a say in how your property taxes are decided? Participate in a Truth in Taxation hearing. Every year in September, Nebraska's Truth in Taxation law requires cities, counties, school districts, and community college districts to directly notify taxpayers about proposed major property tax increases and hold public hearings where taxpayers can express their views about property taxes in their community. Tune into the latest episode of Nebraskanomics, How Nebraskans Can Control Property Taxes with Truth in Taxation, to learn: Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:38 Why Nebraska created a Truth in Taxation law. 05:55 What the Truth in Taxation process will involve every September. 11:05 How Nebraskans can use Truth in Taxation to keep property taxes in check. Stay tuned until the end, when I'll share how you can receive free Truth in Taxation resources, which will help you stand up for taxpayers in your area. === If you want more economic freedom in Nebraska, please visit PlatteInstitute.org to make a donation to help fund our research and advocacy. ❌It’s time to stop the status quo. Let’s remove economic barriers and make Nebraskans proud.

By Jim Vokal

Closing Nebraska’s property tax honesty gap with Truth in Taxation

Closing Nebraska’s property tax honesty gap with Truth in Taxation

Republished from Nebraska Examiner Recent reports that Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert’s proposed 2023 budget contains no tax increase is a prime example of an honesty gap in how Nebraska leaders discuss local property taxes. In fact, the proposal would increase property tax revenues more than 6%. Even I should accept some blame for the honesty...

By Jim Vokal

Nebraska recovers to pre-pandemic jobs count

Nebraska recovers to pre-pandemic jobs count

Nebraska’s economy achieved an important milestone in July, adding enough jobs to match its pre-pandemic jobs count from February 2020. The state’s economy now has 1,033,200 non-farm payroll jobs and the nation’s second-lowest unemployment rate at 2.0%. The national economy also recovered to its pre-recession jobs level in July, marking an important step in national...

By Michael Lucci

Nebraska’s Property Tax Request Act and Truth in Taxation

Nebraska’s Property Tax Request Act and Truth in Taxation

Nebraska’s 2021 Property Tax Request Act added Nebraska to the list of states with a comprehensive Truth in Taxation property tax law. Four types of local taxing jurisdictions–counties, cities, school districts, and community colleges–will comply with the provisions of the new law every September, creating an opportunity for the public to be fully informed about...

By Michael Lucci

Preparing for Truth in Taxation, Nebraska’s Property Tax Transparency Law

Preparing for Truth in Taxation, Nebraska’s Property Tax Transparency Law

Jim Vokal and Laura Ebke discuss how you can help keep Nebraska property taxes in check and learn more about Nebraska’s new Truth in Taxation law at PlatteInstitute.org/Truth. A transcript of this episode is available below. If you’d like to watch this episode on YouTube, press play. Or you can listen to the podcast on...

Jim Vokal & Gary Sadlemyer talk Nebraska’s Truth in Taxation law on KFAB

Jim Vokal & Gary Sadlemyer talk Nebraska’s Truth in Taxation law on KFAB

Jim Vokal joined Gary Sadlemyer on the KFAB Morning News to walk through how Nebraska’s new Truth in Taxation law equips taxpayers with more information about potential property tax increases, and what to do if they’re concerned. You can find more free tips and resources about Truth in Taxation at PlatteInstitute.org/Truth.

How inflation and taxes impact Nebraska farms and factories

How inflation and taxes impact Nebraska farms and factories

Inflation is the top concern for families heading into midterm elections. Americans largely see federal government actions as hurting their households, and they’re right. As a result of the federal inflationary whirlwind, real wages have fallen 3.6% over the last year. Inflation and supply chain disruptions hurt all household budgets. But they also impact different...

By Michael Lucci

Which parts of Nebraska’s jobs market have recovered from the pandemic?

Which parts of Nebraska’s jobs market have recovered from the pandemic?

Nebraska’s economy added 2,600 jobs in June, driving the state closer to a full recovery of payroll jobs from the pandemic recession. If Nebraska’s economy made a similar gain in July, it will be back to its pre-pandemic jobs peak. Like other states, Nebraska’s jobs recovery has been uneven across industries. And as the recovery...

By Michael Lucci

Sign the Petition – Post the Unicameral’s Videos Online 

Sign the Petition – Post the Unicameral’s Videos Online 

“The Salvation of the State is Watchfulness in the Citizen”   Some of you may remember that those are the words etched into the stone above the main entrance to our State Capitol building. Video recordings and archives of floor debate and committee hearings are one of the primary tools most states and U.S. territories...

By Elizabeth Hallgren

Nebraska can build its workforce with licensing recognition

Nebraska can build its workforce with licensing recognition

Nebraska is widely acknowledged to face one of the most severe labor shortages in the country. Even if every unemployed Nebraskan found work right this minute, there would be tens of thousands of jobs still unfilled. Although the nature of the labor market is currently changing all across the country, not every state is being...

By Laura Ebke

Nebraska businesses face 2023 tax increase unless Legislature acts

Nebraska businesses face 2023 tax increase unless Legislature acts

Nebraska lawmakers enacted tax relief in 2022 in the form of LB873, which cut individual and corporate income taxes, eliminated taxation of Social Security benefits, and expanded a property tax credit program. The lion’s share of the tax relief will go to households in the form of income tax cuts and property tax credits, yet...

By Michael Lucci

How the Platte Institute Can Help Nebraskans with Elizabeth Hallgren

How the Platte Institute Can Help Nebraskans with Elizabeth Hallgren

Platte Institute Community Engagement Director Elizabeth Hallgren joins Jim Vokal to talk about her experiences as an educator and small business advocate, and how Nebraskans can stay informed and help remove barriers to success in their state. A transcript of this episode is available below. If you’d like to watch this episode on YouTube, press...

Tracking Waste, Fraud & Abuse in Nebraska with Addie Costello & Deputy Auditor Craig Kubicek

Tracking Waste, Fraud & Abuse in Nebraska with Addie Costello & Deputy Auditor Craig Kubicek

City clerks in 17 small Nebraska towns have been caught stealing from taxpayers in recent years. Addie Costello of the Flatwater Free Press and Nebraska Deputy Auditor Craig Kubicek discuss ways Nebraskans can trust but verify what government is doing with your money, and what to do if you see something that might be wrong.