Nebraska
Principles of good tax policy • Nebraska Examiner
Gov. Jim Pillen is embarking on a policy campaign to sell a new plan meant to lower property taxes. He’s hitting the road making his pitch to voters and state senators in communities around the state.
If you have planned a summer vacation, you know that a great trip does not happen on its own — it takes vision, planning and strong execution. The same is true for state tax policy. Before embarking on a restructuring of Nebraska’s tax system, it’s important to set goals and map out the path to our ideal destination.
We can all agree we want to arrive at a destination where Nebraska has a tax system that allows individuals and businesses to thrive, for our state to compete with our peers, and a system that is fair and equitable for all. How we get there, and what principles we follow, are the primary questions at hand. Achieving meaningful tax reform requires more than a big goal; it must be built upon sound tax policies that will endure for generations to come.
Prior to 2023, Nebraska consistently ranked high among peer states for income tax rates and property tax burdens. Unfortunately, budgets were tight during that time, which limited fiscally responsible means for reducing these taxes. Regardless, our state leaders knew Nebraska had to perform better if it was to successfully compete with peer states for business and job growth and personal prosperity.
Finally, in 2023, Nebraska had its shot. Due to a revenue surplus, in part because ofthe COVID crisis, Nebraska was able to slash its income tax rates to 3.99% over five years and also eliminate community colleges’ ability to levy property tax. These changes significantly enhanced our state’s tax code; however, they did not happen overnight, and they did not happen by accident. Despite this reform, Nebraska still has the seventh highest property tax rate in the country. As we look forward now, we need to consider what goes into good tax policy, and how Nebraska can ensure we get the best outcome for our state.
Budgetary restraint
Foundational to any good tax policy is budgetary restraint. Although Nebraska was able to accomplish significant reforms due to excess revenue, only budgetary restraint can provide sustainable tax relief. That is, future tax reforms should not rely on a tax shift, but instead focus on capping local spending growth and promoting budget restraint.
Simplicity
Good tax policy is also rooted in simplicity. A tax code that is easy to understand and comply with reduces administrative costs and economic distortions. Nebraska’s recent reforms aimed to simplify the tax code by reducing the number of brackets and lowering rates. Eliminating the community college property tax simplified the overall property tax system. Future reforms should continue this trend towards simplicity, making the tax system as straightforward as possible while ensuring that elected officials are accountable to the taxpayer.
Transparency
Transparency is another critical principle of foundational tax reform. A transparent tax system ensures that taxpayers understand how their money is being used and can hold government officials accountable. Transparency also means keeping accountability at the level of government most accessible to the taxpayer. This means local decisions should stay in the hands of local elected officials, not bureaucrats in Lincoln. Nebraska should continue to prioritize transparency, building trust with taxpayers and ensuring that public funds are managed responsibly.
Economic growth
Lastly, economic growth should be a guiding objective. Tax policies that promote investment, job creation and economic expansion benefit all Nebraskans. By keeping tax rates competitive and reducing burdensome regulations, Nebraska can attract new businesses and retain existing ones, driving economic prosperity. Legislators should reject ideas that raise taxes on business inputs and instead focus on policies that spur economic growth throughout our state.
The principles of budgetary restraint, simplicity, transparency and economic growth form the bedrock of sound tax policy. As Nebraska looks to further improve its tax system, these principles will guide us toward a fairer, more prosperous future for all. In the next part of this series, we will explore specific policy solutions to achieve property tax reform, building on this strong and principled foundation.
In conclusion, it is wise to have a clear understanding of the objective before embarking on the journey. For Nebraska, the objective should be statewide population and job growth, business creation and personal prosperity, partnered with state and local spending controls and fiscal policies that help sustain Nebraska’s performance, even through economic turbulence.
LINCOLN, Neb. (WOWT) – In the two weeks since arriving on campus, Dana Holgorsen has spent most of his waking hours in the Huskers facility and film room.
In addition to prepping for Wisconsin, Nebraska’s new offensive coordinator said he is still learning the offense and players’ names. As for why he would want to take on such a gargantuan task midseason?
“I was bored,” he said with a laugh in his first time speaking to reporters. “I was slated to go back to Fort Worth on Sunday night and [Matt] Rhule called and said I need your help.”
While Holgorsen’s appointment officially runs through the end of the regular season, Rhule has stated he hopes the former Houston and West Virginia head coach stays in Lincoln. For now, Holgorsen is just focused on getting up to speed.
“I don’t know what December is going to look like, I don’t know what January is going to look like. I don’t care,” he said. “100 percent of my focus is trying to get our offense better to where we can win against Wisconsin Saturday.”
Holgorsen didn’t need to be here long to know the perimeter blocking needs work.
“There’s some good sized kids out there,” he said, identifying Janiran Bonner, Isaiah Neyor, Jahmal Banks and Carter Nelson by numbers only. “These guys are big bodies. I’m like ‘Why are you not blocking worth a crap on the perimeter?’ It’s embarrassing. First thing I said to them is that if you don’t start blocking out there, you’re not going to get the ball thrown to you. This past week was our best perimeter blocking of the season.”
Wisconsin has won 10 straight meetings with Nebraska, including four straight in Lincoln. An end to those streaks would finally give Nebraska win No. 6 and bowl eligibility for the first time since 2016.
“It’s shocking to me that it’s been that long that a program like this hasn’t been to a bowl game,” he said. “Doesn’t make any sense to me. But it is where we’re at. We tried everything we could to win that game last week, and we had a chance still. We’ll do everything we can this week and we’ll have a chance to.”
After Wisconsin fired OC Phil Longo over the weekend, Holgorsen will now be the veteran offensive coordinator Saturday against the Badgers.
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Dana Holgorsen, the new offensive coordinator and playcaller of Nebraska football, took the stage on Tuesday for his first media availability since he arrived in Lincoln.
Unsurprisingly, if you have followed Holgorsen throughout his career especially during stops as head coach at Houston and West Virginia, the Huskers’ new OC gave point-blank honesty and matter-of-fact thoughts on the players in the building. Those evaluations were based solely on game film, practice reps and, as it should be, football-exclusive factors.
Afterward, Inside Nebraska’s Zack Carpenter and Tim Verghese jumped in front of the camera to break down Holgorsen’s first game calling the shots on offense against USC, what his next one against Wisconsin could or will look like, and a breakdown of his press conference interview.
Watch their analysis – plus the Holgorsen interview in its entirety – in the video links below and on the Inside Nebraska YouTube channel. Subscribe to our channel for FREE to get even more daily content on all things Nebraska. Listen to the audio version on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
The No. 20 Nebraska women’s basketball team put out a statement in its first road trip of the early 2024-25 season. Behind a school-record 20 three-pointers, the Huskers destroyed South Dakota in a 113-70 thrashing at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls on Saturday.
Four NU players put up double-digit points, including a team-high 23 from five-star freshman Britt Prince in her second game after returning from injury. She was an outstanding 10-for-13 from the field with four assists. Reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year Natalie Potts added 22 points with seven rebounds while Alexis Markowski (14), Kendall Moriarity (13) and Kendall Coley (12) also added to the stat sheet.
Nebraska shot over 63% from the field and went 20-for-34 from deep in a performance that will keep the Huskers’ confidence riding high going into Tuesday’s contest at home.
Here’s all you need to know as NU welcomes in North Alabama for a week night matchup.
How to Follow Along
Matchup: No. 20 Nebraska (4-0, 0-0 B1G) vs. North Alabama (2-2, 0-0 Atlantic Sun)
When: Tuesday, November 19
Where: Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln, NE
Time: 7 p.m. CST
Watch: B1G+
Listen: Huskers Radio Network and Affiliates
North Alabama Scout
Head Coach: Candi Whitaker | 1st Season | 233-224 (.510) Career HC Record | 7 WNBA Draftees, 2x DII NCAA Tournament Appearances | Past head coaching stops at Missouri Western (DII), Texas Tech and UMKC.
2023-2024 Record: 12-18 (8-8 Atlantic Sun, T-6th) | 1x Third Team All-ASUN, 1x ASUN All-Freshman Team | Did not qualify for the postseason.
All-Time Series: First meeting.
Fun Fact: North Alabama head coach Candi Whitaker is no stranger to the Huskers, despite it being the first meeting between the two programs. The starting point guard for Texas Tech during her playing days, Whitaker led the Red Raiders to a pair of victories over Nebraska. In 2001 Tech won 66-50 and followed up with a 99-57 thumping of NU in 2002.
Key Returners: Alyssa Clutter, G, Jr. | Veronaye Charlton, G, Soph. | Rhema Pegues, G, Jr. | Sara Wohlgemuth, G, Gr. | Katie Criswell, G, Soph. | India Howard, F, Jr.
Key Additions: Charity Gallegos, G, Sr. (Cal-State San Marcos) | Jazzy Klinge, F, Jr. (Johnson County CC) | Sarang West, G, Jr. (Allen CC).
Key Departures: Alexis Callins, G, Gr. (Union) | Allie Craig Cruce, F (Eligibility).
Outlook: It’s a new era for North Alabama women’s basketball in just the school’s third season as part Division I and the FCS after coming up from Division II. UNA did not renew the contract of former head coach Missy Tiber, who led the Lions to a 172-147 record over 11 seasons.
Instead, athletic director Josh Looney brought along his hire from Missouri Western Candi Whitaker. Looney hired Whitaker at MWSU in 2019, in which she led the Griffons to an overall record of 100-47 with an Division II Elite Eight Appearance in 2022, 2024 MIAA Regular Season Championship and 2024 MIAA Coach of the Year. Whitaker also brings key experience as a head coach at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (two postseason appearances) from 2006-12 and Texas Tech–her alma mater– where she averaged just over 10 wins a season.
The Lions are .500 early in Whitaker’s first season, beating UT Martin (66-63) and South Alabama (71-62) while losing to Tennessee Tech (73-64) and a most recent trip to Kansas (81-64).
Only two players averaged double-digit points last season and both Alexis Callins (Union) and Allie Craig Cruce (graduated) are both gone from the roster. However, the Lions returned most of their roster that went 12-18 in 2023-2024. Give credit to Whitaker, who unlocked the abilities of Cameron Jones (10.5 PPG) and Emma Kate Tittle (9.3 PPG) who were the bottom two scorers from last season.
Cal-State San Marcos transfer Charity Gallegas has been leading the way with 11.3 points per game with Clutter (7.8 PPG), Katie Criswell (6.8 PPG) and India Howard (5.8 PPG) all adding help. Transfer forward Jazzy Klinge has also provided four points and two rebounds per game off the bench. She came in from Allen Community College where she was a first-team NJCAA All-American last season.
For a program trying to find its footing in the Division I scene, a hire like Whitaker should spell confidence moving forward. However, it could be a painful couple years before seeing the rewards. A 10th-place voting in the ASUN preseason poll points toward a rough season, and the Huskers will most likely be their second consecutive blowout loss for the Lions.
MORE: Nebraska Volleyball Setter Claims Fourth Weekly Big Ten Conference Honor
MORE: Carriker Chronicles: Dawson Merritt on Choosing Nebraska Over Alabama & More
MORE: Huskers Have Two Chances for Win No. 6
MORE: Nebraska Volleyball Remains at No. 2 in Latest AVCA Rankings
MORE: What Will it Take for Nebraska Football to Turn the Corner?
Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.
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