Gov. Jim Pillen hosts a news conference at the end of the Legislature's special session to address property taxes that begin almost one month prior. Aug. 20, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)
People should not be afraid to call out elected officials from their own political parties, especially when they are out of their depth. So, no matter what you think of any of the property tax plans considered by the Nebraska Legislature, it is clear that Gov. Jim Pillen mismanaged this entire special session from the start.
His original plan shifted the tax burden and increased taxes on ordinary Nebraskans so wealthy landowners like Bill Gates, Ted Turner, and even himself could get out of paying as much tax as possible. Instead of the 40% reduction in property taxes promised by Gov. Pillen back in February, “guaranteed,” the estimate of the current plan is only a 3% cut in property taxes. Even then, it is a sleight-of-hand trick designed to make it look like property tax relief is happening when it’s really just making property tax credits that people are already entitled to apply automatically.
It’s not as if the Legislature lacked any alternative plans – the Revenue Committee (led by an ally of the governor) refused to consider anything other than the governor’s ideas. I personally liked State Sen. Julie Slama’s suggestion that we expand the homestead exemption, freeze valuations and put a hard cap on government spending increases. But whatever property tax relief happens in the future, it needs to work for Nebraskans at large.
For the here and now though, this failure to deliver any meaningful tax relief to Nebraska is extremely humiliating for Governor Gov. Pillen, with wasting weeks of effort, tons of political capital and nearly $200,000 for the special session, all for a plan that State Sen. Brad von Gillern called the “absolute minimum” that they could do. Or, in the words of State Sen. Steve Erdman, all that has been done is a “decrease of the increase.”
Gov. Pillen’s plans have not effectively addressed the root causes of rising property taxes, such as valuations and the influence of land speculators or financial firms buying properties at inflated prices – which makes those exorbitant prices the new market value and boxes out young families and new farmers from even getting started on the property ownership ladder.
Moreover, Gov. Pillen’s handling of opposition reveals a troubling lack of political maturity. His defensive and combative stance, coupled with complaints about Democratic (and Republican) resistance, highlights a failure to engage constructively on his part. From needlessly promising during the regular legislative session that he would call a special session to deal with property taxes to not building a broad consensus with senators and incorporating their input before the session to exhibiting a “my way or the highway” attitude towards the ideas of others, Gov. Pillen couldn’t have messed more things up if he actually tried.
Instead of insulting critics of his tax plan, Gov. Jim Pillen should’ve spent the last several months preparing for this disorganized mess of a special session. He should’ve spent time taking in ideas and building a coalition of not just state senators but also local businesses and civic organizations. Yet what Gov. Pillen did was to present a fait accompli at his town halls and expect that everyone would fall in line and support it. Jim Pillen didn’t cause this property tax mess, but he sure isn’t able to fix it.
The ongoing struggle with property taxes underscores a deeper issue within our state’s leadership. Nebraskans deserve more than temporary fixes and half-measures. We need leaders who are not only capable of addressing the immediate challenges but also of tackling the root causes with vision and resolve. Gov. Jim Pillen’s tenure has been marked by missed opportunities and mismanagement, and it’s evident that Nebraska’s needs are not being met under his current approach.
It’s clear to me that Nebraska needs effective and principled leadership, and our state deserves a governor who can navigate these challenges facing our state with integrity and competence.
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