10/15/2019 - Laserfiche WebLink

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9:05 a.m. Held a Board of Equalization meeting. Recessed the board of Equalization meeting for more information form the Assessor 10:10 a.m. Returned to the Board of Equalization meeting 10:15 a.m. adjourned the Board of Equalization meeting and returned to the regular meeting. 3. STATE SENATOR STEVE HALLORAN — DISCUSSION & POSSIBLE ACTION ON PRESENTATION REARDING PROPTERY TAX INITIATIVE —Senator Halloran stated that 55 years ago the state was funded by property taxes only then there was sales tax and income taxes to help fund the state. There was debate that property taxes are too high and the legislature did not act on this. Now there is an initiative petition to do something because the state legislature has not addressed this issue. This may pressure the legislature to develop some kind of balanced tax structure. He also noted that with this initiative it may afford a 35% refund to taxpayers or some type of a tax credit. Peterson ask if this was the only initiative petition and Senator Halloran stated there may be others. Discussion was held on the exempt organizations. Entities have to provide services to the exempt organization but they do not pay their fair share. Senator Halloran stated that the revenue committee is looking at the tax exemptions but the exempt organization will lobby for these exemptions. He noted that South Dakota does not have any income tax and no tax exemptions except on some food items so there are more contributions for the government services. Hartman expressed concern on all of the TIF dollars and suggested a sales tax on everything. Senator Halloran stated that sales tax on food is hard on people with a lower income. Bredthauer noted that Nebraska is one of the highest agricultural states but other Ag states have lower sales tax. Senator Halloran said the Governor does not want to increase taxes. They need to address how we provide services but they run up against bureaucracy. How do they fix it they cut the revenue then need to make cuts from the top down. Bredthauer noted that Nebraska has the 7th highest property tax in the Nation. Senator Halloran also noted that once the 2020 census is completed they may lose 1 or 2 rural senators. Richardson noted that the 35% refund sounds good but what programs will be affected. She noted that they need to bring the revenue and the expenditures together but every year the budget increases. She also noted that the universities are one of the least efficient bodies in the state. The university has 3 corporate offices Omaha, Lincoln and Kearney why do they have all of this hierarchy. They need to pressure the legislature to come up with something. Lancaster noted that the county struggled this year and cut $2.5 million from our needs. 3