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 …
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 …
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
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 …
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 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 …
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: 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 …
To Sign or not to Sign: Now Choose Life Constitutional Amendment
On May 2, a third abortion-related initiative was submitted to the Nebraska Secretary of State. VIP has already covered two abortion petitions—one that would establish a fundamental right to abortion in Nebraska, and one that would protect unborn children from abortion in the second and third trimesters, while allowing the possibility for further abortion restrictions to be passed by the Nebraska legislature in the future.
The third petition, Now Choose Life, would result in abortions being banned across Nebraska. Its object is to “amend the Nebraska Constitution to recognize …
