Nebraska

Consultant sees $531M in trims to NE state government • Nebraska Examiner

Published

1 year ago

July 6, 2024

Consultant sees 1M in trims to NE state government • Nebraska Examiner

LINCOLN – A highly-paid consultant is projecting that Nebraska state government could cut $531 million in spending within a year if it more sharply focused on system-wide outcomes that better serve its customers, and tapped more federal and state reserve funds.

In a 57-page report after a year on the job, Utah-based Epiphany Associates said it has identified “an incredible capacity for change and improvement in Nebraska’s state government” that added up to more than a half-billion in savings.

(Getty Images)

It identified four areas in particular where changes would result “in the biggest return on investment.”

Those are the child welfare and Medicaid divisions within the Department of Health and Human Services, the Lincoln Regional Center, and the inmate rehabilitation and reentry program within the Department of Corrections.

Part of Pillen’s plan

About half of the projected savings — about $256 million — would come from removing financial “buffers” in state budgets, such as reducing fiscal reserves, eliminating unfilled staff positions and tapping additional federal funds to cover expenses now handled with state tax funds.

The rest of the projected savings would come from reduced indirect costs such as data analysis systems ($8.7 million), improved contracting with private suppliers ($73.5 million), better return on economic development grants ($22.4 million), improved return on information technology spending ($32.5 million) and better focus on system-wide performance ($138 million).

Gov. Jim Pillen, who made hiring Epiphany a key part of his plan to reduce local property taxes, has already begun urging state agencies to apply for more federal funds to displace state financing of services, and moved to eliminate hundreds of long-unfilled state jobs. The report said that Nebraska ranks very low, 40th in the country, in its “per-capita balance of payments” with the federal government.

Gov. Jim Pillen addresses attendees at a property tax town hall in Plattsmouth. — Gov. Jim Pillen addresses attendees at a property tax town hall in Plattsmouth in May. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Pillen spokeswoman Laura Strimple told the Nebraska Examiner on Friday that the governor is pleased with the work of Epiphany so far and looks forward to more of its work.

She said he supports the “systems approach” used by the consultant, and the idea that state government needs to improve its monitoring of state spending to produce “the best outcomes.”

“When state systems improve in quality, there’s the potential for saved resources to be repurposed in other ways, or to reduce overall expenses,” Strimple said in response to emailed questions.

She added that Pillen agreed with Epiphany that Nebraska has too much sitting in reserve funds — nearly $2 billion — “that could be put to better use.”

State Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood. Dec. 6, 2023. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Reaction to the report from two key senators was more mixed.

State Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood, who heads the budget-writing Appropriations Committee, said that one of his least favorite sayings is “we’ve always done it that way.” He said he encourages new employees at his bank to suggest ways to improve efficiency.

Clements said that while he had not yet read the report, he supported contracting with Epiphany with the assurance that its recommended budget cuts can occur “without a drop in services.” He added that he would have to review the suggestion that reserve funds should be cut.

In its report, Epiphany emphasized that cutting spending does not necessarily mean a reduction in services and that increasing funding does not always equate to better outcomes.

Lincoln Sen. Danielle Conrad, who served several years on the Appropriation Committee, struck a more cautious tone, and said the report leaves a lot of questions unanswered.

She said that while it’s appropriate to “take a fresh look at ideas to reduce state budgets, most of (Epiphany’s) aren’t that fresh.”

“The ones that are will need a lot more analysis,” Conrad said.

For instance, she said that it’s already accepted that luring more federal funds to the state is a good idea, and that it can save money if prison inmates are better prepared to return to society — another Epiphany recommendation.

Conrad said she was most skeptical about a suggestion that Nebraska significantly pare back its cash reserve fund — the so-called “rainy day fund” — that is used when state tax receipts plummet in an economic downtown.

Doing that, the senator said, risks ruining the state’s reputation as a fiscally sound state. In its last rankings of best states, U.S. News & World Report rated Nebraska No. 3 in the nation as the most fiscally responsible.

$10 million consultant contract

A Lincoln think tank that monitors state budgets has seen the report, and Open Sky Policy Institute expressed concerns about straying from current state budget practices in which the State Legislature — not the governor’s office — determines how state tax dollars are to be spent. Rebecca Firestone, the executive director of Open Sky, said it raises separation of powers concerns.

Epiphany was hired for $10 million over four years to cut state spending and improve services.

In its report, it faulted past state efforts at “continuous improvement” of state programs as missing the mark by focusing on individual parts of a system, rather than the system, and its outcomes, as a whole.

State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner).

That appeared to be a jab at the 26-employee Center for Operational Excellence created under then-Gov. Pete Ricketts that was eliminated by the current governor. Pillen opted instead for Epiphany, which Utah officials credited with improving efficiency of executive branch agencies in that western state by 35%.

Pillen, when he signed the contract, told the Omaha World-Herald that he was seeking “breakthrough change” in state spending. The contract calls for cutting at least 3% of state general funds in the first year, and 6% in the second.

The cost-cutting effort is part of his goal of reducing local property taxes by 40% – a goal which has prompted Pillen to suggest a special session of the State Legislature later this month.

Recommendations, observations

Among other recommendations and observations in the report:

— Draw down existing Cash Reserve Fund and General Fund unobligated balances. The report recommended reserves of between 4% and 8% of the general fund based on the stability of Nebraska’s tax base.

The state’s cash reserve fund is expected to hold $800 million by fiscal year 2027, about 14% of the general fund, the report stated, and unobligated funds in the budget are expected to be $700 million by that time, or about 12% of the general fund budget. The report said that two recent fiscal downturns — the Dot-Com recession of 2001 and the pandemic — saw state tax receipts drop by 3.7% and 8.6%, respectively.

— Between 2021 and 2023, costs in the Nebraska child welfare program increased an inflation-adjusted 6% ($53.7 million), while the average number of children served per month decreased by over 4% and the average days it took to establish permanency for children increased by 108 days. That, the report said, is an example of how more spending does not improve services.

— Stop projects and resources that are dedicated to things that, although well intentioned, are not generating system-level results for the customers they serve.

True improvements must result in better outcomes for the primary customer — not the internal bureaucracy, the report stated. State staffers, it added, spent “significant time” on projects that do not have a defined result or outcome.

— The state could save $73.5 million in the next year by improving its contract procurement processes. The state awarded nearly $20 billion in contracts for goods and services during the 2022-23 fiscal year, but procurements often are not held accountable for their impact (or anticipated impact) to system performance or outcomes. (Sen. John Arch, the Speaker of the Legislature, is leading an effort to improve contract selection and performance under a bill passed this year.)

— Improve return on investment for grants awarded by the Department of Economic Development by better targeting specific industries and identifying and tracking specific outcomes. That could save $14.8 million.

“In some cases,” the report said, “(DED) grants were awarded to large corporations who would have likely done business in Nebraska regardless.”

Nebraska Phase 1 Report Final

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Nebraska

York lottery player wins $3,125 in Nebraska Pick 4 drawing

Published

10 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

York lottery player wins ,125 in Nebraska Pick 4 drawing

LINCOLN, Neb. (KSNB) – One lucky player who bought a Nebraska Pick 4 ticket for the Wednesday, Dec. 10, drawing is holding a ticket worth $3,125.

The ticket was sold at Pump & Pantry No. 16 at 109 Lincoln Avenue in York. The winning numbers from Wednesday’s Nebraska Pick 4 drawing were 02, 00, 01, 05.

Winning Nebraska Lottery tickets expire 180 days after the drawing. Tickets with total prize amounts of $501 to $19,999 must be claimed by mail or at a regional lottery claim center. Additional information about claiming prizes can be found at nelottery.com or by calling 800-587-5200.

Nebraska Pick 4 is a daily lotto game from the Nebraska Lottery. Players select four numbers, each from a separate set of digits from 0 through 9, for a chance to win up to $6,000. Players choose one of six bet types to set their play style and potential prizes. The odds of winning the $3,125 prize in Nebraska Pick 4 are 1 in 10,000.

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Emmett Johnson leaves Nebraska with sterling legacy, All-America status

Published

22 hours ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

Emmett Johnson leaves Nebraska with sterling legacy, All-America status

LINCOLN, Neb. — One month ago, on the heels of a breakthrough performance by Emmett Johnson against UCLA, Nebraska launched a Heisman Trophy push for the junior running back.

Johnson enjoyed the limelight. Fans flocked to see him during an appearance in downtown Lincoln and at the high school championship games inside Memorial Stadium. He traveled home to Minneapolis during the Huskers’ bye week and visited his high school, Academy of Holy Angels. He had stopped in previously, but this trip was different.

“It was like a celebrity came to the school,” Holy Angels coach Jim Gunderson said.

In the final two games of the regular season with Nebraska, Johnson rushed for 320 yards, but the Huskers lost them in ugly fashion against Penn State and Iowa to cap a 7-5 regular season. As fast as the Heisman campaign began, it was over — but worthwhile, nonetheless.

Johnson ran this season in part so that running backs at Nebraska who follow him can fly. He leaves Nebraska with a sterling legacy.

On Wednesday, Johnson became the first Nebraska player to receive first-team All-America mentions since linebacker Lavonte David in 2011 — and the fourth running back in the past 70 years, matching Mike Rozier (1982 and ’83), Jarvis Redwine (1980) and Jeff Kinney (1971). His final year ranks among the top five in school history by a running back. Stack it alongside Rozier’s 1983 Heisman season, Lawrence Phillips in 1994, Ahman Green in 1997 and Ameer Abdullah in 2013.

Nebraska coach Matt Rhule and his staff aim to use Johnson’s success to help bring backs to Lincoln who can finish what he started.

“It’s very much not in vogue anymore not to wait your turn,” Rhule said. “Sometimes, it’s like, ‘I’ll just go here and do this, just go there.’ But guys like Emmett had chances. And they stayed. And he deserves everything that he’s getting.”

Johnson was named the Big Ten running back of the year, a first at Nebraska. Last Friday, he declared for the 2026 NFL Draft, foregoing his final season of eligibility and the Dec. 31 Las Vegas Bowl.

High praise for the B1G’s top back@Emmett21Johnson pic.twitter.com/g7EhpUE2EP
— Nebraska Football (@HuskerFootball) December 11, 2025

What separated Johnson this year?

• His 1,130 yards in Big Ten play were the most by a Power 4 back in conference play. He stands alone with 1995 Heisman winner Eddie George as the only Big Ten players to total 1,100 rushing yards and 300 receiving yards in one season of league play.

• Johnson led the nation by accounting for 40.8 percent of his team’s total yards.

• He was the fourth FBS player since 2017 to average 120 yards rushing and 30 yards receiving.

• His 1,821 yards from scrimmage and 1,451 rushing ranked second and third, respectively, in the FBS.

In form true to his roots, Johnson proved wrong skeptics who believed he could not handle 20 carries per game in Big Ten play.

Does everyone realize how freaking good Emmett Johnson is for @HuskerFootball ? Dude is a straight balla. Quick, decisive, tough, great as a receiver. One of the most underrated RB’s in the Country!
— David Pollack (@davidpollack47) November 28, 2025

“He has always had that chip to prove people wrong and be great,” Gunderson said. “This is how he envisioned it going, and he wasn’t going to be denied.”

Four years ago, on a Sunday in mid-December, less than a week before the signing period opened, Johnson accepted a Nebraska scholarship offer. Ron Brown extended it.

A month earlier, Scott Frost, the Nebraska coach from 2018 to 2022, fired four offensive assistants. Brown, with 24 years of experience as a Nebraska assistant under three head coaches, was elevated late in that season from offensive analyst to running backs coach. He reviewed tape of Johnson, who scored 42 touchdowns and rushed for 2,500 yards at Holy Angels in 2021.

And Brown wondered why no big school had snatched up Johnson.

“I was perplexed,” Brown said. “Because when I saw Emmett play, I thought, ‘This guy is special.’”

Brown had recruited Abdullah from high school in Alabama to Nebraska in 2011. And Brown coached Abdullah in his back-to-back 1,600-yard seasons as a junior and senior before an NFL career that continues this year in its 11th season. In Johnson, Brown saw some of Abdullah’s vision, change of direction, endurance and ability to recover.

Brown quizzed Gunderson, the Holy Angels coach, about Johnson.

“I probably threw 100 questions at him,” Brown said, “looking for something that might be a little bit off, something that I had missed.”

Nothing.

“Coach Brown could just see the intangibles,” Gunderson said, “the stuff that isn’t measured. He saw the potential and the kind of kid who was going to work and who believed in himself.”

Johnson started six games as a redshirt freshman in 2023. He started five in 2024 and found his rhythm in the Nebraska offense when Dana Holgorsen arrived as coordinator last season. In December 2024, Johnson considered entering the transfer portal.

Holgorsen’s commitment helped get him to stay.

“ I think he just wanted to know that somebody had a plan for him,” Gunderson said.

The plan was never to leave Nebraska early. Johnson simply wanted the chance to receive a heavy workload.

He got 32 offensive touches against Cincinnati in the 2025 opener, 24 against Michigan, 23 against Maryland and 29 against Northwestern. In November, after quarterback Dylan Raiola was injured, Johnson stacked three games with 31 opportunities apiece and a 27-touch effort against Penn State.

“This dude really did what he said he was going to do,” Nebraska tight end Luke Lindenmeyer said.

His reliability never came into question.

“I’m so proud of Emmett, man,” senior cornerback Ceyair Wright said. “I think his success is a product of who he is as a person, how he treats people and the work that he puts in.”

Emmett Johnson shouldered a heavy load late in the season, garnering 27-plus touches in each of his final five games for Nebraska. (Harry How / Getty Images)

His humility and care for others rate as Johnson’s most admirable trait. Johnson said he wanted to share credit with his teammates for the accomplishments of this season. He rushed for 177 yards in the first half against Iowa and 217 for the game. But he stressed in the aftermath that he felt badly for older teammates who played their final games in Lincoln on Black Friday.

Turns out, he was among them. Johnson takes pride, he said, in building a new reputation for Nebraska running backs — more than a decade after Abdullah departed, three decades after Green and 42 years after Rozier’s Heisman.

“It matters a lot,” Johnson said, “because Nebraska is a special place. I want to be able to have recruits look at this place and know it’s special. It is special. I’m blessed to be the one doing that and helping. It’s bigger than just football.

“There are a lot of great humans here. That’s what I want to help push.”

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Nebraska lands commitment from DL Jayden Travers adding to early Top 5 recruiting class

Published

1 day ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

Nebraska lands commitment from DL Jayden Travers adding to early Top 5 recruiting class

Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances Academy 2027 defensive lineman Jayden Travers announced his commitment to Nebraska on Wednesday evening during the broadcast of the Overtime National Championship game.

The Panthers are playing Draper (Utah) Corner Canyon.

The 6-foot-4, 260-pound Travers becomes commit No. 7 for Matt Rhule and the Huskers in the 2027 class, adding to a haul the Rivals Industry already ranked No. 5 nationally early in the cycle.

Nebraska offered Travers in May and he got a chance to visit Lincoln during the fall. He spoke about his decision prior to kickoff with Rivals.

“The culture there is amazing for football,” Travers said. “The coaching. They really care about your well-being. I like the defensive front they run. It’s somewhere I can play and develop at.”

The Rivals Industry tabs Travers as the nation’s No. 56 defensive lineman.

“He is from an extremely tough neighborhood in Baltimore and he has worked his butt of to be in this position for change. very dedicated to the sport and natural leader,” St. Frances head coach Messay Hailemariam said.

Hailemariam likes the decision for Travers as well.

“He felt great about the coaches and his chance at being developed for Sundays,” Hailemariam said before talking about what stands out about about him as a player. “Extremely strong and can use his hands extremely well.”

Other offers for Travers included Michigan, Miami, Maryland, Pittsburgh, Texas A&M, South Carolina and Syracuse.

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