Nebraska

Grand Island Chamber: Nebraska’s Tax Burden Threatens Future Growth

Published

2 years ago

June 3, 2024

Press Room

Grand Island Chamber: Nebraska’s Tax Burden Threatens Future Growth

Grand Island Chamber of Commerce, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)

GRAND ISLAND — Think about the positive news emerging from the Cornhusker State.

Nebraska has been ranked the third-best state by U.S. News and World Report, including No. 3 for fiscal stability.

Nebraska also recently boasted one of the nation’s best economies, with a real GDP growth rate of 5.2% in 2023.

And Grand Island’s ranking as one the top U.S. metro areas for economic indicators and economic strength has made statewide headlines.

But Nebraska also faces obstacles that threaten future growth, talent attraction, and job creation. One of those is the tax burden, which is one of the 15 worst in the U.S. according to WalletHub.

Nebraska’s Tax Structure

To reduce Nebraska’s overall tax burden, we must first understand our tax structure.

We often hear about the “three-legged stool,” but Nebraska’s tax system is actually two-tiered. The state collects income and sales taxes, while local government — mostly school districts, counties, and cities — imposes property taxes (and a small sales tax rate, in many cases).

Unable to control local spending, the Legislature for many years now has opted to redistribute state taxpayer dollars in the form of a complex property tax credit, hoping this would lower the local tax load. Meanwhile, the overall tax burden has gone unchecked.

State Vs. Local Taxes

The use of state taxpayer dollars to subsidize the local tax burden may not be the wisest approach. Here’s why:

• State income taxes, both personal and corporate — in addition to state sales taxes — took in roughly $7.1 billion in 2023. That is up 76% from 2015, just eight years earlier.

• Local property taxes took in about $5.3 billion in 2023, up 39% over the same eight-year period. Remember, agricultural land is assessed at 75% of market value, rather than the 100% valuation imposed on other real property.

We are left with a $1.5 billion-plus imbalance between the major local and state tax bills.

This is why the chamber of commerce community — including the Grand Island Chamber — opposes plans to hike the state sales tax rate, or impose a 7.5% advertising tax on small business, or tax business inputs. These actions would put Nebraska businesses at a disadvantage nationally, while also failing to address the overall tax load.

Tax Relief Tenets

As state and local leaders continue to examine our tax structure, two principles must remain front and center:

1. Taxes are a direct result of government spending. Gov. Jim Pillen has noted that even during a period of deflation, many government entities authorized annual spending increases of 5% or 6%. Meanwhile, Nebraska is fourth in the U.S. for the total number of government employees per capita.

2. Tax shifts are not tax relief. Time and again, we have seen that the use of state funds to subsidize local tax bills does not lower Nebraska’s overall tax burden. These tax swaps do, however, distort transparency.
The Grand Island Chamber’s public policy agenda offers these recommendations:

– Explore consolidation of local government functions;
– Ensure Nebraska receives its share of federal dollars; and
– End unfunded government mandates. (Around 22% of county costs come from unfunded mandates, according to Gov. Pillen.)

Finally, Nebraska must steer clear of the proposed EPIC tax plan, which would inflict an estimated 22% consumption tax rate on businesses and consumers. The GI Chamber opposes EPIC because it’s anti-growth and would likely decimate our economy.

State and local officials need to work in concert to devise a more thoughtful tax system, allowing individuals and businesses to keep more of their own money. The chamber community stands ready to help achieve this critical mission.

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Nebraska

Nebraska State Patrol troopers find 242 pounds of cocaine during commercial truck inspection

Published

3 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Nebraska State Patrol troopers find 242 pounds of cocaine during commercial truck inspection

LEXINGTON, Neb. (KOLN) – Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested one person after finding more than 240 pounds of cocaine during a commercial vehicle inspection.

On Tuesday afternoon, an NSP Carrier Enforcement trooper conducted a commercial vehicle inspection on a semi tractor/trailer driven by Arwinderjit Singh, 30, of California, near mile marker 254 on Interstate 80.

Arwinderjit Singh mugshot(Dawson County Jail)

During the inspection, the trooper became suspicious of criminal activity. An NSP K-9 detected the odor of a controlled substance inside the cab of the semi, troopers said.

After searching the cab, troopers located 242 pounds of cocaine concealed underneath the sleeper bed, NSP said.

Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested one person after finding more than 240 pounds... — Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested one person after finding more than 240 pounds of cocaine during a commercial vehicle inspection.(Nebraska State Patrol)

Singh was arrested on suspicion of possession of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver, possession of an open alcohol container, no drug tax stamp and displaying a fictitious license plate.

Singh was lodged in Dawson County Jail, and his bond was set at 10% of $2 million. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 12.

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Nebraska

Athlete of the Week: Creighton Prep boys wrestling’s Zaiyahn Ornelas

Published

15 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Athlete of the Week: Creighton Prep boys wrestling’s Zaiyahn Ornelas

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Creighton Prep senior Zaiyahn Ornelas won his fourth consecutive Nebraska state wrestling title on Saturday.

According to NSAA records, he joins 39 other wrestlers in state history to accomplish the feat.

“It’s a great feeling,” Ornelas said. “It’s a feeling everybody wants.”

The senior ended his career as the 39th four-time state champion in Nebraska history, winning three at Wilber-Clatonia before joining the Jr. Jays.

Ornelas won three Class C state titles at Wilber-Clatonia at 106, 113 and 120 pounds before transferring to Creighton Prep for his senior season, where he competed in Class A at 126 pounds.

“Three state titles there and then just thought I could bump up my competition,” Ornelas said.

“Zaiyahn is one of the cleanest technicians I’ve ever seen. That’s a huge testament to his coaching staff at Wilber,” Fisher added.

Ornelas was one of four Creighton Prep wrestlers to win state titles this season, helping lead the Jr. Jays to the Class A team title. Teammates said his presence in the practice room raised their level of competition.

“I could never slack off just because my competition in the state was easy. I always had to come in this room and get better or else I was going to get beat,” said sophomore Cruzer Dominguez, a two-time Class A state champion at 106 and 120 pounds.

Sophomore Kameron Green, the Class A 144-pound state champion this year, also credited Ornelas for aiding in his development.

“Zaiyahn being a training partner has helped me in tremendous ways,” he said. “When he wrestles, he’s not the nicest or shyest kid, but he’s tenacious and tough.”

The sophomore won his first state title after finishing as a runner-up at 126 pounds as a freshman.

Junior JT Smith, a two-time state champion at 175 and 190 pounds, said the achievement carries weight for the entire team.

“It’s something really special to have a teammate that’s a four-time state champion,” he said. “That’s something everyone wants to be.”

The junior finished the season as a back-to-back state champion after winning a gold medal at 175 pounds as a sophomore.

Fisher said Ornelas’s attitude set the tone from the start.

“He has so many skills and then coming into our room, he’s extremely coachable. Every time he came in here he was humble, ready to work, wanting to get better and that’s why he is as good as he is,” Fisher said.

Ornelas signed to wrestle at the University of Nebraska in November. He said the move to Creighton Prep delivered what he was looking for.

“This is the reason why I came here. I went out to explore, to find the best, and this is the territory that I found. If it wasn’t for these guys — the push — I would have not been there,” Ornelas said.

“It’s hard to believe. That’s kind of what I wanted since the beginning, freshman year,” he said.

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Nebraska

Nebraska Chamber taps former state senator to lead during leadership transition

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Nebraska Chamber taps former state senator to lead during leadership transition

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry has selected a former state senator and longtime board member to lead the chamber while it searches for a new president and CEO.

Board of Directors Chair Pat Keenan said Thursday that Matt Williams of Gothenburg agreed to serve as interim president.

ALSO READ: Nebraska Chamber president and CEO resigns after less than a year

“The Board is grateful to Matt for stepping into this role during a very active and productive time for the Nebraska Chamber,” Keenan said. “He has steady leadership, strong relationships and trust from his many years of advocacy for economic development, and decades of experience working with the legislature and state government on tax policy and economic development incentives.”

Matt Williams(NE Chamber)

Williams represented District 36 in the Nebraska Legislature from 2015 to 2023.

The chamber said Williams has had a lifelong career in banking and serves as chairman of Flatwater Bank. He previously served as chair of the Nebraska Bankers Association and the American Bankers Association.

His long involvement with the chamber includes membership on the Board of Directors; he currently serves as director for District 6. In 2025, he was named to the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame.

“The Nebraska Chamber is on rock-solid footing, with the clear vision of the Board, and talented and hard-working staff hitting its stride in legislative policy and advocacy, technology, manufacturing, leadership-development, fund-raising and membership. The success of cutting-edge initiatives like 6 Regions, One Nebraska, the launch of the Go Big Future series, and the strong member engagement across the state demonstrate the success and strength of this organization. I’m excited to lend my support in whatever way I can for the Chamber. I know how strong businesses and communities make for a stronger Nebraska, and I’m glad to be part of that.”

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