Who really “needs” a pool?
Who really “needs” a pool?
Swimming pools may be great fun, but they're not core government services.
Eagles and broken window fallacies
Eagles and broken window fallacies
A bald eagle smashed through a storefront window and gave an essential economics lesson.
New local sales taxes taking effect
New local sales taxes taking effect
According to the NE Department of Revenue, the following are changes to the local sales and use taxes effective Jan 1, 2020: Gage County will start a new 0.5% county sales and use tax rate that is effective in the entire Gage County area. Deshler will start a new 1% city sales and use tax rate. Unadilla will start a new 1.5% city sales...
A good way to bleed for a cause
A good way to bleed for a cause
We are often encouraged to "give what you can," but might forget that we can give a lot more than money.
Is Nebraska’s local financial management lacking?
Is Nebraska’s local financial management lacking?
Maybe it’s time the State of Nebraska look at investing in more auditors for local entities.
Michigan losing nearly $750 million due to occupational licenses
Michigan losing nearly $750 million due to occupational licenses
News from Michigan today – “Michigan could put more people to work and add $746.2 million to state and local government treasuries by reforming or eliminating occupational licensure mandates — dwarfing the $195 million governments here currently collect in licensing fees.” This is based on a study coming out of a Massachusetts based nonprofit. The...
In Utah: special session on sales tax exemptions
In Utah: special session on sales tax exemptions
The proposal to be discussed includes an expansion of the state’s sales tax base.
Nebraska’s 10-year challenge
Nebraska’s 10-year challenge
Ever wonder how much our state has changed when it comes to tax policy? Well, in the spirit of Facebook’s ten-year challenge, here is Nebraska’s ten year tax challenge: 2009 to 2019. Here are some things to keep in mind. Slight changes in our tax rates can change our national ranking. For example, the individual...
The stories behind “Black Friday”
The stories behind “Black Friday”
The folks over at the Foundation for Economic Education have provided us with a nice little background on why “Black Friday” is called that. If you don’t have time to read the story before you head out on your post-Thanksgiving shopping binge, here are the three competing theories behind “Black Friday.” 1) National Hooky Day...
The real story of Thanksgiving
The real story of Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving from the staff of the Platte Institute. Here’s a nicely done, brief video that serves as a reminder.
Extra money belongs to the Omaha taxpayer
Extra money belongs to the Omaha taxpayer
An excess in reserves for OPS creates an opportunity to do the right thing - protect the taxpayer.
Voters abolish local government over income tax
Voters abolish local government over income tax
Hat-tip to Jared Walczak at the Tax Foundation for pointing out this worthwhile read in the New York Times about an Ohio village where voters decided to abolish their local government in order to fend off a tax increase. Residents of Amelia, Ohio voted to disband the local political subdivision after their council imposed a...
Nebraska turkey facts for Thanksgiving
Nebraska turkey facts for Thanksgiving
Nebraska Turkey Growers Cooperative in Gibbon, Nebraska, the state’s only turkey processing plant, produces more than 55 million pounds of turkey a year. Nebraska’s 17 turkey growers, who are members of the Nebraska Turkey Growers Cooperative, raise approximately 4 million turkeys each year. The majority of these turkeys are packaged under the Norbest label. In 2007,...
Occupational licenses should be fully portable
Occupational licenses should be fully portable
Those of us who work with occupational licensing sometimes operate in a bit of an endless loop. You see, we’re not entirely sure that there are very many occupations for which the state should be licensing (granting permission to work). At the same time, we often promote things like “universal recognition” legislation, which would say...