On Nov. 7, I joined Senators Bob Andersen, Jared Storm, and Paul Strommen in a pledge to Nebraska taxpayers that we will not support any tax increase(s) that will grow the overall tax burden on Nebraskans. Any proposed tax/ fee increase or expansion absolutely must provide for a dollar for dollar decrease in another current tax burden, guaranteeing that we hold the line. As we move closer to the first day of session, it is important to set the parameters of how we intend to address the current budget deficit and the approach to balance it. To quote Reagan, “The problem is not that people are taxed too little, the problem is that the government spends too much.”

Despite decades of efforts through levy limits, valuation caps, and various tax relief credits, Nebraska families, farmers, and ranchers still bear one of the heaviest tax burdens in the nation. While these tools have “slowed the growth” we are not seeing the intended result of a reduction in the overall property tax burden. When I hear complaints that the Legislature has failed to address the issue of property taxes, it is important to have the facts. The fact is that the legislature has directed over $1.6 billion, with a B, toward property tax relief which has resulted in only a $6 million decrease in total property taxes collected. It is being addressed, in $1.6 billion ways, it’s just not working. Credits alone cannot solve the problem. True reform requires addressing both government revenue and government spending. In short, we have to plug the hole in the bottom of the bucket.

For constituents in the Sandhills and across western Nebraska, this pledge is a promise to back a tax policy that works for you and reflects true fiscal conservative policies. Ranch families operating on thin margins, small towns facing shrinking populations, and young people building futures in rural areas need a system that supports, not hinders, their prosperity. Every tax dollar should be spent responsibly, and success should be measured by the opportunities we create for Nebraska families, not by the money flowing through the government.

The strength of a pledge rests on the integrity of those who make it. This commitment will face serious challenges during the upcoming legislative session. We will undoubtedly face pressure to abandon these principles when popular programs seek funding or powerful interests demand new spending. But the people of Nebraska deserve better than politics as usual. They deserve legislators who recognize that government spending directly affects a family’s budget, a small business’s bottom line, and a young person’s future. I am committed to ensuring our decisions put Nebraska families first and that resources are used wisely and responsibly.

Facebook: Tanya Storer for Legislature Email: tstorer@leg.ne.gov Phone: (402) 471-2628 Respectfully, Senator Tanya Storer