York News-Times on March 27: EPIC talk: Henderson Chamber of Commerce holds meeting about EPIC tax option
The Henderson Chamber of Commerce recently hosted a presentation from OpenSky Policy Institute about the EPIC Option, a proposed tax cut which would eliminate all state income, property, inheritance and corporate taxes. Tiffany Friesen Milone, deputy director of OpenSky Policy Institute, a Lincoln-based think tank focused on budget and tax policy, shared her organization’s findings […]
Nebraska Examiner on March 27: A tale of competing projections: Governor’s Office, OpenSky figures differ
Nebraskans are being presented with two starkly different projections on whether taxpayers will be paying less, or more, under Gov. Jim Pillen’s proposed property tax relief plan. The plans calls for up to a 1-cent hike in state sales taxes and new and higher sales taxes on some purchases to offset a reduction in local […]
Nebraska Examiner on March 27: Debate begins on ‘massive’ tax bill proposed by governor to reduce property taxes
Debate on Gov. Jim Pillen’s epic and controversial property tax relief plan began Wednesday, with advocates saying it will result in a net tax savings and opponents saying it’s a tax shift that will hurt middle- and low-income families. The plan calls for up to a 1-cent increase in state sales taxes, hikes in taxes on […]
North Platte Telegraph on March 27: OpenSky leader criticizes property tax plan as LB 388 debate begins
A property tax relief plan before the Legislature likely isn’t sustainable and unwisely targets sales taxes to fund it, the leader of a Lincoln-based state policy research group said Wednesday in North Platte. Rebecca Firestone, executive director of OpenSky Policy Institute, told Noon Rotary Club members that Legislative Bill 388’s sales and excise tax increases […]
KETV on March 27: Showdown on property tax relief begins in legislature with only days left in session
The debate over giving you more property tax relief is underway the state legislature. Lawmakers have only a few days left in the session to pass LB 388. “There’s been so much misinformation about this bill that I hope not just my colleagues inside the legislature listen, but I hope people at home listen,” the chair […]
WOWT on March 27: Nebraska Legislature debates increase in sales tax for property tax relief
A debate on property tax relief started in the Nebraska Legislature on Wednesday, and an increase in the sales tax is part of the discussion. LB388, proposed by State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, seeks to use sales tax funds to supplement property tax relief. The bill seeks to cap spending by cities and counties, but it includes […]
KNOP-TV on March 27: EPIC Tax Proposal being discussed in North Platte
The EPIC Tax proposal was being discussed during the North Platte Rotary meeting on Wednesday. EPIC or Eliminate Property Income (and inheritance), and Corporate taxes is tax program to EPIC purports to replace all of this revenue by a singular consumption tax rate of 7.5%. Current sales tax rate is 5.5% and raised just $2.4 billion in Fiscal Year […]
VIDEO: Why proposed tax shift is wrong for Nebraska
The tax package designed to lower property taxes paid to local political subdivisions would increase the tax burden on low- and middle-income working families and make it increasingly difficult for cities, counties and schools to provide the services that Nebraskans expect. An amendment to LB 388, filed Tuesday, would raise an estimated $650 million […]
KETV on March 25: ‘We have to get it’: Nebraska Gov. Pillen praises new property tax relief plan
An increase in sales taxes is a must, according to Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, if the state wants to see substantiative property tax relief. “It’s a simple thing,” he told KETV on Monday. “We have to get it so we’re completive. It’s a workforce issue. It’s seniors who can’t stay in their homes. It’s young […]
North Platte Telegraph on March 22: Consumption tax backers’ assumptions challenged at Thursday at North Platte forum
A longtime lobbyist says a broad array of Nebraskans’ everyday purchases and services logically would be subject to the consumption taxes a statewide petition drive’s leaders want enacted. Korby Gilbertson of Lincoln outlined the “EPIC Option” plan’s likely consequences Thursday at a forum sponsored by the Lincoln County Board of Realtors. Read more from North […]
KNEB-AM on March 22: Pillen property tax relief bill advances but not without criticism
Two organizations often on the opposite ends of most economic issues facing the state are mostly on the same page criticizing the emerging version of the governor’s property tax relief plan. The package of tax changes advanced by the Revenue Committee projected to lower school taxes by half or more would do so by raising […]
Nebraska Examiner on March 21: Property tax relief bill advanced to lower school tax by half or more
A property tax relief package advanced by a legislative committee Thursday is projected to lower local school taxes by a half or more by raising the state sales tax by up to 1 cent and eliminating a handful of sales tax exemptions. The Legislature’s Revenue Committee advanced Legislative Bill 388 on a 7-0 vote with […]
