Pillen praises majority of Unicameral, urges holdouts to support property tax relief package

KEARNEY, Neb. — As the Unicameral takes an extended weekend break from its special session, Gov. Jim Pillen is urging them to get property tax relief across the finish line.

Speaking in Kearney after his Ag and Economic Development Summit on Thursday, Pillen stressed that Nebraskans are desperate for a solution to what he describes as a property tax crisis.

“The 80% of Nebraskans, they don’t have lobbyists, they don’t have special interests," Pillen said. "We have to cut property taxes, we have to cap property tax growth, we have to close the loopholes of the special interest groups, we’ve got to educate our kids.” 

Pillen praised what he said is a majority of senators who are working to find a solution. He says there are six to eight who want to filibuster and call names instead of work for a solution.

“We got one challenge: it’s called 33-17. It only takes 17 to stop everything," Pillen said. "The lobbying group is masters at it. They can figure out who they might pick off and they only need to pick one or two off to crash the whole party. We’ve got to stay strong and we’ve got to keep working.”

The legislature is considering a plan that would eliminate dozens of sales tax exemptions and change school funding to a state budget item instead of an enterprise funded by local property taxes.

Critics say Pillen’s approach to a solution has been exclusionary and rushed. Some describe it as a tax shift or even as a tax increase.

Meetings will continue over the weekend. The Revenue Committee could vote to bring a tax package to the whole legislature on Monday. Debate could start Tuesday.