Nebraska Gov. Pillen Promotes 'Cap, Cover, Cut' Property Tax Strategy, Vows 2028 Ballot Push If Legislature Stalls
Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen held a news conference in Lincoln on November 6 to unveil the property tax strategy for his second term, summed up as 'Cap, Cover, Cut.' The governor's office promoted the plan in a release on November 7.
'Cap' means limiting increases in property valuations while also capping local government spending. 'It's really important that we focus on structural reform. We have to cap valuations, and we have to cap spend,' Pillen said. He noted that land valuations have continued to skyrocket, while not enough local political subdivisions are lowering their levies when valuations rise, so tax bills keep growing.
'Cover' means the state would cover more of the cost of K-12 public education. Pillen said the state will continue to provide more funding for the education system, since local property tax revenue could fall, and take advantage of federal tax dollars made available for education costs.
'Cut' means requiring local governments to cut the property taxes they levy. 'We're dead serious about fighting for Nebraskans to solve this property tax crisis. It's been going on for 50 years,' Pillen said. He added that the state will keep cutting its own spending and look at eliminating sales tax exemptions, especially for services, to broaden the sales tax base.
Pillen also set out his timetable: 'We have to get to real, meaningful change. If we don't get things accomplished in 2027, our team will be working on taking it to the ballot for 2028, and we will let the people speak.' Pressed later, he left the door open to a possible special session before the 2027 class of state senators is sworn in.
Property taxes were the top issue in Nebraska's governor's race. Pillen won a second term in the November 3 election after campaigning on hard caps on valuations and local spending to finish property tax relief; whether the plan becomes law now rests with the Legislature in its 2027 session.
(Source: Office of the Governor of Nebraska)
Source: Office of the Governor of Nebraska
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于Lincoln的内布拉斯加州议会大厦。Carol M. Highsmith摄，美国国会图书馆收藏，公共领域，经Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: The Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln. Photo by Carol M. Highsmith, Library of Congress collection, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
