Like Scottsbluff, North Platte tax hearing largely focused on property taxes

Like Scottsbluff, North Platte tax hearing largely focused on property taxes

Property taxes were the main discussion topic at Tuesday’s Tax Modernization Committee public hearing North Platte. Property tax talk also dominated Monday’s hearing in Scottsbluff.

North Platte testifier Sherri Hansen told the committee that the state should institute a targeted property tax assistance program that benefits low- and middle-income Nebraskans.

That sentiment was echoed by Anselmo farmer David Hansen who noted that the state could enact a circuit breaker that would keep people’s property tax bills manageable when their income is down. We discuss property tax circuit breakers in our recent analysis of the tax change options that are being discussed at the hearings.

The tax committee should help create a tax code that benefits the whole state and maintains investment in key areas like education, roads and infrastructure, Eustice farmer and OpenSky board member Doug German said, noting that Nebraska has become too reliant on property taxes.

The Tax Modernization Committee holds its third hearing Thursday afternoon in Norfolk. The final two hearings will be held in Omaha and Lincoln on Oct. 17-18.  See a full schedule of hearings.