Primers

Our primers aim to provide an overview of the big issues impacting Nebraska’s fiscal standing. 

“A Healthy Nebraska: An Overview of Medicaid in the Cornhusker State,” updated in December 2023, provides an overview of Medicaid and CHIP funding in Nebraska. Read more.

“Taking Ownership: An Overview of Property Taxes in Nebraska,” released in October 2023, explores the history of property taxes in Nebraska with information on the valuation process, how revenues are distributed and efforts the state has made to lower property taxes.  Read more.

“Looking for Clarity: An Overview of Nebraska Budget and Tax Policy,” updated in October 2023, offers an unbiased look at Nebraska’s budget. OpenSky has combined information regarding the budget process, state spending, state revenue, and tax expenditures in one place. Helpful visuals and real-world examples illustrate where taxpayer dollars go. Read more.

“Giving Money Back to the People?” was released in March 2023 and explores the tax package passed by the Legislature in 2022, its implications on the state’s finances and the economic conditions that ushered in the surplus funds leveraged to enact it. Read more.

“Investing In Our Future: An Overview of Nebraska’s Education Funding System,” updated in April 2022, explores how Nebraska has paid for K-12 education in the past, how it does so now, and discuss the perceived inequities of our current system. Read more.

“Sustaining the Good Life: SNAP in Nebraska,” released in March 2020, is a mini-primer that examines the use and funding of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in our state. Read more.