Like your new property taxes this year? I didn’t think so. I have received several calls and emails about the loss of the $10,000 personal property tax exemption that was eliminated by the implementation of LB 1107, the so called property tax relief bill. The more accurate name for this bill is “the decrease in the increase” bill, because that is what it really is. This bill did absolutely nothing to actually lower your property taxes this year. Let me explain why.

Over the course of the last five years property taxes statewide increased $813 million. As you can quickly figure out, that amounts to an annual increase of $162 million. LB 1107 grants to the people of Nebraska an annual reduction of $125 million in their property taxes. Sounds great, right? When subtracted from the annual increase of $162 million, it results in a net increase statewide of $37 million per year, instead of the usual $162 million. But, it gets worse.

Getting back to the loss of the personal property tax exemption, Statewide that exemption amounted to relief of $16 million per year prior to LB 1107. The personal property tax exemption was available to all businesses, including agricultural businesses, who had personal property associated with their business.

So, the net amount of property tax relief under LB 1107 is really $109 million statewide, instead of the $125 million as advertised by the advocates for this bill. Some said this bill is historic and significant property tax relief!

In essence, what this bill did was force us all to give up a guaranteed reduction in the personal property tax exemption for what we might get back if the State happens to get enough revenue to fund it. By now most of you have received notice from your county assessor informing you about the loss of your personal property tax exemption. Surprised? Frustrated? I understand your pain. For these reasons and more, I voted against LB 1107.

Nebraskans need a real solution to their tax problem, and the first step in any recovery program is to admit that a problem exists. Nebraska’s tax system is broken. It is unworkable. It is kaput! We can no longer afford to continue to play this ridiculous game of hide and seek taxation. What we need is something brand new. We need something that works, we need a tax system that is fair, and we need the kind of tax system that politicians can never tamper with.

So, what is the solution? The solution, in my humble opinion, is the consumption tax. In the weeks ahead I am going to introduce you to what I am calling the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. The time has come for taxpayers in Nebraska to begin asserting their rights as taxpayers. And when these rights are properly understood, the consumption tax begins to emerge as the obvious answer and self-evident solution to all of Nebraska’s tax woes.

I am very excited about the consumption tax solution to our State’s tax problem and I looking forwarding to discussing it with as many Nebraskans as possible in the days, weeks and months ahead.

Unclaimed property comes in many different shapes and sizes. It could be an un-cashed paycheck, stocks left in a safe deposit box, or expensive jewelry from a deceased and distant relative’s last Will and Testament.

The 2019 Unclaimed Property Report lists all of the properties received by the State Treasurer during the last year worth $25 or more.

You may check to see if your name is listed in the report by visiting the State Treasurer’s website by clicking on the following link Nebraska State Treasurer and then clicking on the link for the 2019 Unclaimed Property Report.

There are three ways to file your claim: 1) Complete a paper claim form and mail it to: Property Division – 809 P Street – Lincoln, NE 68508, 2) Stop by the State Treasurer’s Office at the State Capitol Building in Lincoln, or 3) Go to the State Treasurer’s website and click on “submit claim.”

If you would like more information, please call the Unclaimed Property Division at (402) 471-8497 or toll-free at 1-(877)-572-9688, or call my office at (402) 471-2616.

Good luck with your search, and may you find your pot of gold.

The date for the public hearing on LB707 has been changed again by the Revenue Committee. Please disregard the date change provided in Sen. Erdman’s newspaper article in this week’s newspapers. The date of the hearing has been changed to March 13, beginning at 1:30 p.m. in Room 1524.

The 2018 edition of the Unclaimed Property Report is out. To see if the State of Nebraska is holding your unclaimed property or to file a claim, please call (402) 471-8497. You may also check online by clicking on the following link: Unclaimed Property Report Online.  As always, please feel free to call my office at (402) 471-2616 with your questions.  My staff can also check to see if you have any unclaimed property.  Nebraska State Treasurer, Don Stenberg, oversees all of Nebraska’s unclaimed property.   He is pictured below.

The Nebraska Family Helpline provides a single point of access to children’s behavioral health services through the operation of a 24-hour, year-round Helpline for the State of Nebraska. The Helpline is a service of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, provided by Boys Town.

The Nebraska Family Helpline offers a wide range of support including: Screening for immediate safety needs, connecting with first responders, referrals to local resources, development of strategies with families, and collaborative problem solving.

Helpline counselors are standing by to assist you with your family’s needs. All you need to do is call. The Nebraska Family Helpline phone number is: 1-888-866-8660.

Jeanne Murray from Nebraska’s Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) will be in Alliance, Nebraska at the University of Nebraska Box Butte County Extension Office on Monday, July 10.  You will find her at 415 Black Hills Ave. Jeanne Murray will be available to help persons new to Medicare in 2017, Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries with Prescription Drug Plans, and to answer any Medicare or Medicaid questions you may have.

To schedule an appointment, please call Jeanne Murray at 308-632-6554. Please feel to leave a message.

Congratulations to Nailah Pereya Galdean for winning the Safe Digging Poster Contest!

The One Call Board of Nebraska recently invited elementary age students and youth organization members in our district to travel on a magical and educational journey while teaching them the importance of underground utility services and the dangers of unsafe digging practices.

Utilizing a fun and educational DVD combined with a comprehensive Teacher’s Resource Guide developed by the Common Ground Alliance, educators took the opportunity to explain the necessity of the underground utilities we use every day. The “Call Before You Dig” message was carried throughout the lesson explaining the importance of using safe digging practices along with the associated dangers of damaging an underground utility, such as the loss of key services like 911, electricity, internet and heating/air conditioning.

To conclude the educational segment, students were encouraged to create posters highlighting safe digging and “811” – the National “Call Before You Dig” telephone number. Several of these posters were randomly selected and used in various promotional venues including flyers, websites and billboards across the State of Nebraska. In addition, six individual classes that participated in the Safe Digging Pirate Adventure were randomly selected to receive a complimentary bench, commemorative plaque and a tree for their school, along with a cookie party to celebrate their knowledge of the importance to “Call Before You Dig”.

Nailah Pereya Galdean, a student at Prairie View Elementary School in Ogallala, NE was named as one of the contest winners.  To celebrate, there will be a special event at the school on Friday, April 21 at 12:30 p.m.  MST the One Call Board of Directors will be presenting the school with their chosen tree, complimentary park bench, and a commemorative plaque.  The public is invited to attend this event to recognize the school’s participation in and knowledge of safe digging practices.

Do you need help with a legal question? Have you no money for a lawyer? Help is available at www.NE.FreeLegalAnswers.org.

NE Free Legal Answers is an online pro bono service offering free legal advice for those who qualify.  The American Bar Association has sponsored the project in collaboration with the Nebraska State Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project.

The legal advice is easy to obtain, it’s fast, and most of all it is free to qualified users.  To qualify, you must be at least 18 years old, you cannot be incarcerated, you must meet low income eligibility requirements, and you must have access to a computer with an Internet connection and an e-mail account.  Many public libraries offer free Internet services.

Once you qualify, you may post a civil (non-criminal) legal question for free.  You will receive an e-mail when a lawyer answers your question.  Then, you log into the Website to read the lawyer’s response.