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Ricketts: Nebraska made ‘good progress’ on property taxes

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts

Nebraska ag groups were discouraged once again this year by the legislature’s inability to provide significant property tax relief to the state’s farmers and ranchers.

They were also frustrated by Governor Pete Ricketts’ opposition to legislation that they supported that would have raised sales taxes to help lower property taxes.

But Ricketts tells Brownfield there was still “good progress” towards controlling property taxes this year.

“We increased the property tax credit relief fund by 23 percent—and that’s significant,” Ricketts says. “That means if you’re in agriculture, right now you’re getting 103 dollars in credit from the state for every $100,000 dollars in valuation—and that will go up to 127 dollars.”

Ricketts says another bill he signed protects Nebraskans from automatic tax hikes when property values go up. It requires that citizens be notified whenever a political subdivision, such as a school district, city or county, wants to increase its property tax receipts.

“Now that local taxing entity will have to have a public hearing and will have to take a vote. Otherwise it will not be able to take more of your tax dollars. So that will be significant for taxpayers and transparency.”

Ricketts says the state must continue to look for property tax solutions that don’t raise Nebraskans’ taxes.

AUDIO: Governor Pete Ricketts

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