Governor Jim Pallen delivered his first State of the State address to the Nebraska Legislature on Wednesday morning. In the roughly half-hour address, Pillen spoke on his priorities, such as reforming tax laws, making public school funding more equitable, and attracting and keeping talent in the state.
“We all agree we are taxed way too much in Nebraska,” said the governor. “Our tax policy chases our kids out; chases our grandparents out of this state. We can’t grow Nebraska this way. From my view, it’s really simple: We must have the courage to say ‘no.’ ‘No’ to overspending and maintain a focus on investing in our kids and giving this money back to Nebraskans via historic property and income tax cuts.”
Reforming taxes, particularly property taxes, has been a large part of Pillen’s early-term agenda. On Jan. 18, the governor introduced what would be the largest tax cuts in Nebraska’s history. The tax cuts would give Nebraska one of the 10-lowest tax rates in the nation.
Taxes are connected to Pillen’s education plans, too. Reforming 1990’s TEEOSA legislation is directly tied with property taxes and is why the governor made remarks on funding public schools in Wednesday’s speech.
“Today, I am proposing the creation of an Education Future Fund with an investment of $1 billion in the fiscal year of ’23-’24 and an additional $250 million each year thereafter,” said Governor Pillen. “This investment ensures that Nebraska will never give up on a single kid ever again.” Pillen additionally recommended an extra $1,500 be invested into every individual public school student annually.
Pillen’s proposed reforms are with the aim of growing Nebraska. The governor said that the state needs more engineers, actuaries, accountants, architects, geneticists, scientists, nurses, and teachers. We need more welders, auto technicians, electricians. Technicians to fix computing dependencies on cars, and trucks, tractors, and combines. Almost everything.”
Despite calls for change and outlining what the state needs, Governor Pillen’s speech held an optimistic rather than cynical tone. “Because of our people,” began the governor, “the state of our state has never, ever been stronger.
We, the people of Nebraska, have the grit and determination needed to solve the tough problems and overcome the difficult obstacles, no matter the circumstances.”