Journal Star on July 11: Local View: Why the time is right to study the tax system
As the state begins to take a closer look at our tax system this week, a lot of people are asking, “Why now?”
Economically, things are relatively calm in Nebraska these days. We don’t have a major crisis as we did in 1967, when our state property tax was deemed unconstitutional and the state enacted a sales tax in response. Major companies aren’t threatening to leave for warmer tax climates as they did in 1987, prompting the Legislature to quickly pass tax incentives to keep businesses in Nebraska.
But the fact that we aren’t in the midst of a crisis is exactly why now is a good time to take a closer look at how we tax, who is paying and whether we are investing enough in vital services, such as our schools.