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Former Private School Tax Credit Referendum Cut From November Ballot

By Chase Porter May 16, 2024 | 5:06 PM
Nebraska State Capitol (Chase Porter, KLIN News)

Last years successful referendum petition seeking to repeal new tax credits for private school scholarship donations, will not be on the November general election ballot, announced by Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen today.

The organization behind the petition, Support Our Schools Nebraska, turned in over 117,000 signatures to the secretary of state office last August to repeal LB 753, which authorizes a baseline of $25 million of dollar-for-dollar tax credits for donations to organizations that provide scholarships to private Nebraska schools.

Secretary Evnen made the decision following the Nebraska Legislature’s recent passage of LB 1402, which repeals LB 753, and offers a tweaked version of the same legislation, authorizing $10 million for the program

“Since the previous law will no longer be in effect by the time of the general election, I do not intend to place the original referendum on the ballot,” Secretary Evnen said.

The same petition organizers have filed a new referendum – this time seeking to partially repeal LB 1402. Petition organizers have until July 17 to collect valid signatures from 5% of Nebraska’s registered voters. Additionally, as with any statewide petition, sponsors will need to collect valid signatures from 5% of Nebraska registered voters in at least 38 counties.

“This is exactly why voters need to sign the new petition to put LB1402 on the ballot – Nebraskans must protect their voice – their right to vote on this issue,” said Jenni Benson, a Support Our Schools Nebraska sponsor. “We cannot allow politicians to impose this costly private school voucher scheme on taxpayers while denying Nebraskans the right to vote on the issue.”