Webinar: Talking Tech in the #neleg
Webinar: Talking Tech in the #neleg
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New Jersey’s increasing debt and taxes show Nebraska what not to do
New Jersey’s increasing debt and taxes show Nebraska what not to do
Nebraska has avoided efforts to raise state taxes in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and is one of the few states whose revenues grew from the previous year. But states like New Jersey are providing an alternate view into what can happen when policymakers consistently rely on tax increases to paper over their financial...
Nebraska unemployment ranks lowest, approaching pre-pandemic levels
Nebraska unemployment ranks lowest, approaching pre-pandemic levels
Since the start of the pandemic, Americans have wondered when the job market would return to normal. For Nebraska, that time may be now. The Nebraska Department of Labor announced Friday that the state’s unemployment rate currently sits at 4%. That figure is not only the lowest in Nebraska since the beginning of the pandemic...
Disruptions from COVID-19 on Nebraska’s Agriculture
Disruptions from COVID-19 on Nebraska’s Agriculture
Government and industry responses to the COVID-19 pandemic created a variety of unique situations for agriculture. The “stay-at-home” orders forced consumers to be homebound, which increased the demand for food in grocery stores while simultaneously reducing the demand for food in restaurants. Reduced consumer travel caused the demand for ethanol to fall, impacting distillers’ grains,...
Podcast: Sarah Curry discusses COVID-19 funding transparency issues on KGFW’s Talk of the Town
Podcast: Sarah Curry discusses COVID-19 funding transparency issues on KGFW’s Talk of the Town
Sarah Curry joined KGFW’s Talk of the Town to discuss her new report, which reviews the transparency of the state’s tracking website for COVID-19 relief funds. Read the full report here.
What is the fastest growing area in Nebraska’s state budget?
What is the fastest growing area in Nebraska’s state budget?
Nebraska’s state budget is growing, but what area of spending is the largest and growing the fastest? Contrary to what many believe, K-12 education is not the largest expenditure in state government. Health and human services and higher education are larger state spending areas, with the state Department of Education coming in behind these two categories....
Where is the Money Going? Tracking COVID-19 Relief Funds in Nebraska
Where is the Money Going? Tracking COVID-19 Relief Funds in Nebraska
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit our nation, Congress reacted by enacting a historic $2 trillion spending plan to keep our nation from falling into financial ruin. In total, there have been four pieces[1] of federal legislation enacted with the intent to help individuals and states combat the health and economic crisis that occurred, of which...
2020 property tax credits will decline from previous year
2020 property tax credits will decline from previous year
Nebraska’s $275 million property tax credit program is expected to be worth a little less to property owners when they pay their 2020 tax bills. The Nebraska Department of Revenue has released its annual calculation for how much credit taxpayers will receive from the state’s current property tax relief program. For the 2020 tax year,...
State revenues look positive despite unexpected drop in corporate tax collections
State revenues look positive despite unexpected drop in corporate tax collections
The report for August 2020 state General Fund tax revenues was released today, September 15, and the state looks to be recovering from the recession we entered just a few months ago. According to the Nebraska Department of Revenue, the actual tax revenues are 6.4% higher for the fiscal year than projected by the state’s...
Nebraska is cutting red tape, but still has room to improve
Nebraska is cutting red tape, but still has room to improve
Excessive regulations have harmful effects on prosperity and growth. In many cases, the compliance costs of these regulations constitute a hidden tax on businesses and citizens, costing valuable resources that could be contributing to Nebraska’s economic growth. Regulation is a necessity of our society, and we should not get rid of all regulations. But Nebraska...
Manufacturing report card gives Nebraska an average GPA
Manufacturing report card gives Nebraska an average GPA
An annual assessment of state manufacturing and logistics industries by the Ball State University Center for Business and Economic Research finds that Nebraska ranks average among its peers, though the scorecard also notes Nebraska’s people and strong finances are advantages for its manufacturing potential. While the 2020 Manufacturing Scorecard does not give Nebraska a single...
City of Omaha waiving restaurant tax penalties
City of Omaha waiving restaurant tax penalties
Restaurants in the City of Omaha have received some good news. On September 3, Mayor Jean Stothert announced that the city’s Finance Department has been directed to forgive late fees on restaurant tax payments due from March through the end of 2020. Nebraska’s first positive COVID-19 case hit the Omaha metro on March 6. As...
Don’t die in Nebraska: How the county inheritance tax works
Don’t die in Nebraska: How the county inheritance tax works
There are only six states in the nation that levy an inheritance tax, and Nebraska is one of them. In fact, Nebraska has the highest top rate at 18%. According to a local law firm, “When a person dies a resident of Nebraska or with property located in Nebraska, the Nebraska county inheritance tax will...
Don’t be dense: Geography alone can’t explain Nebraska property taxes
Don’t be dense: Geography alone can’t explain Nebraska property taxes
There’s a common argument that Midwest and Plains states like Nebraska have high property taxes because they’re larger states with relatively small populations. The idea is that pooling our limited resources for more miles of roads and school buildings naturally means property taxes will be higher. It sounds sensible, but there are other possibilities. Nebraska...