Nebraska Farm Bureau (NEFB) is asking the Southeast Community College (SCC) Board of Governors to exercise fiscal restraint in its tax ask for the upcoming fiscal year. NEFB joined a coalition of stakeholders that include the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, Lincoln Independent Business Association, Nebraska Cattlemen, Nebraska Corn Growers Association, Nebraska Pork Producers Association, and Nebraska Soybean Association in sending a letter in opposition of SCC’s 2024 budget and associated levy increase to SCC.
While the coalition organizations support the mission of Southeast Community College to provide workforce training, our members believe in fiscal restraint. The coalition reminded SCC that raising property taxes at a time when property valuations are growing on average by 15 percent across its 15-county service area without definitive plans about how and when the money will be spent is simply irresponsible.
Reducing Nebraska’s overreliance on property taxes and seeking a more balanced system to fund education has long been a policy priority for NEFB. Through the work of Farm Bureau, the Legislature passed LB 243 in 2023 which included a funding change for community colleges. Beginning in 2025, community colleges will no longer be allowed to levy a property tax for their general fund budget. Instead, the State will provide funding for the general fund of all six community college districts, including SCC. This change is in line with the funding of the University of Nebraska and Nebraska State College systems. Community colleges will still have authority to levy property taxes for capital construction. Additionally, the colleges will receive an automatic 3.5 percent funding increase annually from the State, determined by the baseline budget set for fiscal year 2023-2024.
Source: nefb.org
Photo Credit: Nebraska Farm Bureau
Categories: Nebraska, Business, Education