Blog


Tax Increment Financing - expanded

Benefits and Dangers of TIF

Benefits and Dangers of TIF 

The vast majority of Nebraska’s counties (67 out of 93, covering 136 cities and towns) use TIF for various purposes, with varying types of projects and degrees of success. Some of them have been able to pay off TIF loans early, creating more property tax revenue more quickly than expected. Many have been glad to see the improvements in their communities, bringing formerly barren buildings or land brought to life, and more attainable jobs and housing. Others wonder, however, if TIF is being abused, and what negative impacts it might have. Both sides of the …


Tax Increment Financing (TIF)

A Boon or a Bust?

A growing trend in Nebraska is the use of tax-increment financing (TIF) to fund redevelopment projects. Some, such as Omaha’s Mayor Stothert, are wholehearted proponents of TIF. Others, such as State Auditor Mike Foley are more cautious about its use, while not taking a “pro” or “con” position. Still others, such as Mayor Candidate Mike McDonnell, want to put a pause on new TIF projects.
 
So what is TIF? How has Nebraska used it, and why are so many Nebraska communities increasing their use of TIF? What are the benefits and dangers of TIF?
 
What is TIF?
 
We’ve all seen …

Good Life Districts

Good Life Districts—What Are They?
 
Nebraskans in Omaha and Grand Island saw Good Life Districts on their ballots within the last year, and voters in Gretna will see it soon. Interpreting the ballot language requires context. The language asks if the City is permitted to collect money and use it for a Good Life District, without explaining what a Good Life District is.
 
Without context, it is not clear what this money is for, where the District is, how it would benefit taxpayers, or even whether voters are voting for taxes to be raised or lowered. Voters who have been …

We are losing the election

Adapted from Facebook post originally written on November 4th by guest blogger who teaches middle school.

We are losing the election. Not in the sense that a particular party is winning or losing, but we are losing the future generations of America due to our conduct in this election season.
 
I recently had a discussion with my students in which I asked them how they think our society is handling this election. Their responses hurt my heart and convicted me. Some said that people were openly insulting the candidate they disagreed with. They knew of many sarcastic memes that were …

Results - Pending

General 2024 Election Results - as of 11/25/24

Only a few results are still pending. 
 
State "managed" races results, so far, are available at
 
Secretary of State:  The left menu includes - at least:
Senators, House of Representatives, Legislature, State Board of Education, Board of Regents, Judges
Natural Resources District, Public Power Districts, Community Colleges, Learning Community
Statewide Ballot Measures
 
On the county level, the following links provide unofficial information - except for several school boards that cross county lines.  For example both Millard and Gretna Schools have voters in both Douglas and Sarpy Counties.  We are waiting for …

Time to Vote

Be Prepared


With so little time before the election, commercials for and against candidates and ballot initiatives flood news, social media, mailboxes, and even yards. Bitter words, sound bites, and talking points, which are designed to stir up emotion rather than to give information, besiege us. 
 
No wonder many of us can’t wait for November 6. The whole experience can be so draining, and the issues facing our communities can feel so impossible, that some throw up their hands and give up on voting.  
 
But November 5 is a crucial day. We get to decide what happens! Not every country gives its …

School Choice Referendum


 

School Choice for Nebraska? You Decide. 

The debate over school choice has come to Nebraska. Nebraska’s new school choice law has established a voucher program that sets aside $10 million for private school scholarships.  

One of your choices on the ballot this fall will be to repeal or to retain that voucher program.  

Nebraska’s fight over school choice has a 2-year backstory. Last year, Nebraska legislators passed LB 753, allowing $50 million in tax credits for qualifying families to send their children to private schools. Governor Pillen signed it on May 23, 2023. The bill provides scholarships “with priority …


Summer VIP Celebration!

Personal story for Why VIP


 

Summer VIP Celebration!
 
We take a break from our regularly scheduled objectiveness today to celebrate the success, community, and expanding reach of Voter Information Project (VIP), and to invite you to help us improve. I can’t think of a better way to do that than to share my own experience.
 
Before I get into that: What is VIP? If you have never used it—VIP was made to give voters access to the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.  [from the editor:  If candidates fail to tell the truth, we cannot control that - but we report what …

To Sign or Not to Sign: Remove School Choice Funding


Private Education Scholarship Partial Referendum

In the Nebraska Unicameral system, the “second house” consists of the people.  If enough people agree, they can create laws and even amend the Constitution using the Initiative process.  They can also change the laws made by the Legislature using the Referendum process.  The whole system is described here. Initiative and Referendum Process

A Nebraska non-profit organization named Support our Schools states:

The object of this Petition is to

Repeal Section 1 of LB 1402, passed by the 108th Nebraska Legislature in 2024, which directs $10 million dollars annually for financial grants-in-aid for eligible …


To Sign or Not to Sign: Paid Sick Leave Initiative


To Sign or Not to Sign: Paid Sick Leave Initiative 

One petition being circulated for this year’s ballot is the “Paid Sick Leave Initiative.” It lays out rules that, if put on the ballot and passed, would require private Nebraska employers to provide a minimum amount of sick leave.  

“The object of this petition is to enact a statute to provide eligible employees the right to earn paid sick time for personal or family health needs, to entitle those employed by employers with fewer than 20 employees to accrue and use up to 40 hours of earned paid sick time …