How much have property valuations increased in your Nebraska county?
How much have property valuations increased in your Nebraska county?
The Nebraska Department of Revenue tracks historical property valuations for each of Nebraska’s 93 counties. Overall, there are three major categories of property that are tracked: residential, commercial, and agricultural. All three experienced growth over the last decade. Most notably, agriculture valuations grew almost twice as much as residential property values. The interactive maps below...
By Sarah Curry, Hudson Hohman
Nebraska’s peer states are cutting income taxes
Nebraska’s peer states are cutting income taxes
Every state has a peer group they look to. Typically, it includes neighboring states. In Nebraska’s case, Missouri is a comparable peer. Some of the attributes we might look at are Missouri’s similar agricultural economy, but also their much lower property taxes. But when it comes to economics and growth, even states that are not...
By Sarah Curry
4 Great Reads for the 4th of July
4 Great Reads for the 4th of July
Summer is a great time to indulge in good book. Whether sprawled out on a blanket under a shade tree, lounging by the pool, or passing the hours on a road trip to a vacation destination, it’s easy to get absorbed in a compelling read. Americans will soon celebrate Independence Day on the 4th of...
By Nicole Fox
Nebraska gas tax reduced slightly through end of 2021
Nebraska gas tax reduced slightly through end of 2021
Starting today, Nebraskans will be paying slightly less tax on a gallon of gas. Every six months, the state Department of Revenue reevaluates the motor fuel tax. The overall gas tax is decreasing from 28.7 cents per gallon to 27.7 cents per gallon. This comes after a 4.5 cent decline at the beginning of the...
By Hudson Hohman
Louisiana passes tax modernization, refers income tax cap to voters
Louisiana passes tax modernization, refers income tax cap to voters
Update: On November 13, 2021, Louisiana voters approved Amendment 2, adopting the proposed income tax reduction. Traditionally, Louisiana has severely lagged behind other states in the area of tax policy, consistently ranking in the bottom ten states on the Tax Foundation’s State Business Tax Climate Index. However, Louisiana’s state legislature recently passed an impressive tax...
By Hudson Hohman
Nebraska’s New Truth in Taxation Law
Nebraska’s New Truth in Taxation Law
The property tax transparency law called Truth in Taxation is new to Nebraska, but a similar law has been on the books in Utah since 1985. Two Utah-based experts, Rusty Cannon of the Utah Taxpayers Association, and former Utah state Sen. Howard Stephenson, join Jim to discuss how the policy has worked in the Beehive...
Nebraska nets $720 million in revenue in May
Nebraska nets $720 million in revenue in May
Nebraska’s state tax revenues remain above projections as the state continues its rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the most recent Nebraska Department of Revenue news release, gross revenues for the month of May 2021 were $892 million or 72.6% above the certified forecast. Net revenues for the month were $720 million, which is...
By Nicole Fox
Diane Battiato’s right: Assessors aren’t the cause of Nebraska’s property tax woes
Diane Battiato’s right: Assessors aren’t the cause of Nebraska’s property tax woes
As summer begins and finalized property valuations land in many Nebraska mailboxes, county assessors can take an undue share of the blame for what looks to be an unavoidable—and sometimes major—increase in property tax bills. But in a recent Omaha World-Herald letter to the editor, Douglas County Assessor and Register of Deeds Diane Battiato appropriately...
By Jim Vokal
Iowa’s repeal to leave Nebraska with region’s only inheritance tax
Iowa’s repeal to leave Nebraska with region’s only inheritance tax
Thanks to a comprehensive tax reform bill (SF 619), Iowa has successfully set a date for repealing its inheritance tax. Iowa will phase down the tax by 20% each year until it is repealed in 2025, leaving only 5 states in the nation left with an inheritance tax. Among them, Nebraska has the highest rate...
By Sarah Curry
Nebraskanomics: Former State Sen. Jim Smith on Next Steps for Blueprint Nebraska
Nebraskanomics: Former State Sen. Jim Smith on Next Steps for Blueprint Nebraska
Former Nebraska state Sen. Jim Smith is joining the Platte Institute as its new Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer. He discusses his past work at Blueprint Nebraska and how its initiatives are being carried over to the Platte Institute. You can watch the video on YouTube here or listen to the podcast episode on...
Former Nebraska state Sen. Jim Smith to join Platte Institute
Former Nebraska state Sen. Jim Smith to join Platte Institute
Former Nebraska state Sen. Jim Smith, of Papillion, will join the staff of the Platte Institute as the organization’s Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer. Smith serves as President of Blueprint Nebraska, a statewide visioning process for Nebraska’s growth, competitiveness, and prosperity. Before leading Blueprint, Smith served two terms in the Nebraska Legislature, representing...