107TH LEGISLATURE, 1ST SESSION – DAY 58

I greatly appreciate Chairman John Sinner and the Appropriations Committee for creating a biennium budget that I, and many of my colleagues, believe will help us to steward Nebraska well over the next two years. I am proud of how the State of Nebraska has always placed a high value on maintaining a Rainy Day Fund that is sufficiently funded. This has given Nebraska the financial strength to be able to handle unforeseen situations like the flooding in recent years, until the Federal funding reached our communities. 

BUDGET FOCUS ON THE FLOOR

Over the past three months the Appropriations Committee has held numerous hearings, briefings and executive sessions to develop their proposed budget. The main focus of the proposal is:

Replenish the Cash Reserve Fund – In the committee proposal the Cash Reserve Fund (CRF) balance would increase from $412 million to $763 million, a total of $351 million. Automatic transfers per current law accounts for $301 million of this increase but the committee proposal allows for this to replenish the balance by only using the CRF for reserving funds as an incentive to attract the US Spacecom project ($50 million) offset by a $100 million transfer from the General Fund. 

Service Provider rate increases – The single largest increase in the budget was to provide a 2% per year increase in Department of Health and Human Services and juvenile service providers amounting to an $83.5 million increase over the two years.

Property tax relief – With a very small increase in TEEOSA funding under the current law formula, the committee included an increase in the Property Tax Credit amounting to $63 million over the two year period. Although not accounted for as a General Fund expenditure, this would be the second largest increase item in the budget.

Job training and economic development – The committee proposal includes a total of $32 million over the two year period for Nebraska Career Scholarships ($17 million) and the Business Innovation Act ($15 million).

Available for Legislation – After the items listed above, the Committee proposal results in a budget that is $211 million above the minimum reserve. In other words this leaves a maximum of $211 million available for legislation pending before the Legislature.

You can see the proposed budget in its entirety on the Nebraska Legislature website homepage, under Appropriations Committee Proposed Budget (4/1/2021).

A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN ON YOUR TAXES

Senator Ben Hansen introduced a bill on the Floor this week that I wholeheartedly stand behind because it will keep all of us more informed about what is happening with our personal property taxes. LB 644 will adopt the Property Tax Request Act for the purpose of increased transparency for impacted political subdivisions to raise their property tax levies. LB644 recommends public notifications and hearings for the public whenever the need for justification is necessary to raise the property tax over the previous years. It also requires a postcard be mailed to all constituents in relation to the political subdivisions request for higher levy rates than cannot exceed the previous year’s request. To put it simply, you will receive a postcard in the mail informing you of what local boards, i.e. school, city, county, ESU, NRD, etc., taxes may be raised and why, and giving us a chance to weigh in. 

A LETTER FROM THE LEGISLATURE TO THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

My office has received numerous phone calls and emails from Constituents who are concerned about the content of the new Health Standard Standards that the Nebraska Department of Education introduced last month. That is why I spearheaded a letter from the Nebraska Legislature to the Department of Education Commissioner Matt Blomstedt and the State Board of Education asking that all sex education and other ideologically motivated content be removed from the Nebraska Health Standards. My colleagues who joined me in signing the letter  included Senator Julia Slama (LD 1), Senator Robert Clements (LD 2), Senator Robert Hilkemann (LD 4), Senator Mike McDonnell (LD 5) Senator John Arch (LO 14), Senator Ben Hansen (LD 16), Senator Brett Lindstrom (LD 18), Speaker Mike Hilgers (LD 21), Senator Mike Moser (LD 22), Senator Bruce Bostelman (LD 23), Senator Suzanne Geist (LO 25), Senator Myron Dorn (LD 30), Senator Tom Brandt (LD 32), Senator Steve Halloran (LD 33), Senator Curt Friesen (LD 34), Senator Ray Aguilar (LD 35), Senator John Lowe (LD 37), Senator Dave Murman (LO 38), Senator Lou Ann Linehan (LD 39), Senator Tim Gragert (LD 40), Senator Tom Briese (LD 41), Senator Mike Groene (LD 42), Senator Tom Brewer (LD 43), Senator Dan Hughes (LD 44), Senator Rita Sanders (LD 45), Senator Steve Erdman (LD 47), and Senator John Stinner (LD 48). 

NEBRASKA  DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HEALTH STANDARDS

Recently the Nebraska Department of Education released a draft of the Nebraska Health Education Standards. I strongly encourage you to read the standards and inform yourself about new content that is being considered. 

Take some time to review the entire document for yourself and let the State Department of Education know what you think. 

A draft Health Education Standards are available for review at:

https://www.education.ne.gov/healthed/health-education-standards-development/

You can contribute your feedback at:

https://nde.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8dI1y2pRSfXlG8R

Or members of the public can submit a formal comment by emailing nde.standardsinput@nebraska.gov. 

DISTRICT 17 COVID-19 

The number of positive tests reported for the periods April 2, 2021, and April 9, 2021 in District 17 are as follow: 

Dakota County +19 (4017) 

Thurston County: +5 (1157) 

Wayne County: +12 (1115) 

As always, it is of great importance that I hear from my constituents to effectively do my job as your voice in the Legislature. I encourage you to contact me and I look forward to hearing from you. You can reach me at 402-471-2716 or jalbrecht@leg.ne.gov.