Property Taxes and COVID-19

Nebraska’s ag economy is now rivaling in the 1980s. Our farmers are suffocating under a combination of high property prices, low commodity prices, and a collapse in demand with COVID-19. 

Many farmers are looking at their balance sheets and scratching their heads. Those who have farmed their entire lifetime and put their heart and soul into putting food on the table across the world might not get to farm again at the rate this economy is headed. Farmers are loading their planters while looking at rock-bottom commodity prices and trying to find places for their pigs, many of whom have reached out to me over the last few weeks to openly wonder, “Is it really worth it anymore?”

The burden of Nebraska’s property tax crisis on farmers is substantial and detrimental to the livelihood of those families who rely on the farm as an income. On a larger scale, entire regions of the state, including Southeast Nebraska, relies upon a strong ag economy for economic growth. For decades, politicians have found some reason or another to kick the can down the road on achieving property tax relief. While the hit to Nebraska’s budget from COVID-19 is substantial, much of it will be offset by an influx of aid from the federal government. There are some using the negative financial impact of COVID-19 to shrug their shoulders and say “Oh well, maybe next year”, when it comes to property tax relief. That is unacceptable. 

Perhaps it’s easy for an urban senator to look at the numbers and decide to abandon the core of our economy when they need it most, especially if they expect no one will hold them accountable. Other rural senators and I are uniting to stand against this type of apathy- we can’t let the crisis our farmers are facing be ignored. When the Legislature reconvenes, we will stand tall for our rural economies and demand property tax relief. We will shine a light on the current ag crisis. We will refuse to let rural Nebraska be ignored.

Our farmers, business owners, and all other property taxpayers need relief. When the Nebraska Legislature reconvenes later this year, property tax relief will remain my top priority. Our state is taxing agriculture, the backbone of Nebraska’s economy, out of business. The Legislature can’t put this crisis on the back burner for another year. 

As always, I welcome your input on issues important to you. Follow along on my Facebook and Twitter pages, both entitled “Senator Julie Slama” for more updates, or contact me directly at Senator Julie Slama, District 1 State Capitol, PO Box 94604, Lincoln, NE 68509-4604; telephone 402-471-2733; email: jslama@leg.ne.gov