PIT Brief Figure 1 Personal income tax cuts don’t spur economic growth

For numerous reasons, claims that reducing the personal income tax in Nebraska will promote economic growth are unsubstantiated. Whether one looks at overall economic growth, employment levels or small-business job creation, data from across the United States show no clear relationship between personal income taxes and a state’s economic well-being.

home2 Our Goal

The goal of OpenSky Policy Institute is to put the state on a sustainable long-term growth path that will balance the needs of its citizens with the capacity of the revenue structure.… (read more)

budgetstatebills What We Do

OpenSky Policy Institute seeks to improve the tone of the public discourse about fiscal issues in Nebraska by sharing ideas and information to stimulate a dialogue, involving a wide spectrum of citizens in the discussion.… (read more)

  • Our easy-to-follow primer into Nebraska’s budget and tax process has been updated!

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    Latest from Open Sky Policy Institute...

    Kay Stilwell Bergquist hired as education policy analyst

    Posted May 21st, 2013 by Chuck

    We are pleased to announce that Kay Stilwell Bergquist is joining the OpenSky Policy Institute as our new education policy analyst. Kay will start at OpenSky on June 3.

    OpenSky PowerPoint available for download

    Posted May 9th, 2013 by Chuck

    Download the PowerPoint presentation we used on our tour around the state this week.

    Senate votes for retail fairness

    Posted May 7th, 2013 by Chuck

    U.S. Sens. Mike Johanns and Deb Fischer were among a strong bi-partisan Senate contingent that voted on Monday to pass the Marketplace Fairness Act – which gives states the ability to collect online sales taxes.
    Nebraska loses an estimated $98 million[1] every year to untaxed online and catalog sales. While Nebraskans are legally required to remit use tax through their… (read more)

    Budget Brief Figure 1a

    Appropriations budget: Appropriations up, funding restoration slow

    Posted May 6th, 2013 by Chuck

    A decade-long decline in state spending will come to an end if the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee budget is adopted. The committee’s recommendations call for a 5.2 percent average annual increase in General Fund appropriations this biennium, but it’s important to note that appropriations only grew at a 1.1 percent average over the previous four years. As such, the budget would be a small first step toward restoration of support in key budget areas such as education, transportation and infrastructure, and health and human services.