Nebraska community colleges come out against Gov. Pillen's budget plan
It says the budget plans to give them less than it asked for
It says the budget plans to give them less than it asked for
It says the budget plans to give them less than it asked for
Lowering property taxes and preventing brain drain in Nebraksa were two priorities Gov. Jim Pillen laid out in his state of the state address this week.
He proposed the state take on the funding of Nebraska's community colleges rather than letting property taxes be responsible.
The executive director of the Nebraska Community College Association says there's already a bill on the table that's a better way to get both accomplished.
"Which is, again, why we're in favor of LB 689, which then issues you an income tax credit for anything you pay for community college property tax and be 689 then would still give you all your property tax relief, but just not with the downside," Wittstruck said.
She says property owners would get a 100% tax credit back from the state on taxes paid to their local community college. So, she says, it would allow for local control of trade programs while still providing tax relief.
She says different community colleges will need to fund courses with different needs.
"Maybe Omaha needs some software courses, maybe Scottsbluff needs some heavy equipment courses. Well, the funding is going to be different for both of those," she said.
And, she says, local control is vital.
"Honestly, if you take away the right to levy property taxes, you might as well not even call us community colleges anymore," Wittstruck said.
Wittstruck says Nebraska's community colleges teach students trade jobs.
She says the budget is set to give them less then they asked for, plus ignores dual enrollment- a credit option she says will give Nebraska the skilled positions it needs.
"So if we don't have the funding to do that properly, I'm concerned it will hurt all of Nebraska."
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