Issue Position: Taxes

Issue Position

Property taxes, in general, are too high. I hear this complaint more so than almost any other as I campaign. I believe too much of education is funded through property taxes, but this is a difficult issue at the state level. Under our current budget, if the portion that is paid by property taxes is reduced, but total spending on total K-12 education remains the same, sales and income taxes would have to increase. I don't believe the majority of citizens in Nebraska want to cut funding for education. If that assumption is correct, our best approach would to be more efficient with the dollars we have. The best solution is to grow the economy.

Sales taxes, are paid by everyone who lives in Nebraska as well as by individuals who visit our state. Therefore, everyone who lives here contributes to the state treasury through the payment of sales taxes. I recognize, as many of our citizens do as well, that sales taxes are regressive on low income individual and families.

Income taxes, in my view, should be paid by anyone who earns an income in Nebraska. After an appropriate exempt amount of income, everyone should pay the same rate. I believe the income tax is a fair tax, because those who earn less pay less and those who earn more pay more.

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