Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman made a rare appearance before legislators last week, pushing for a $327 million tax-cut plan that would reduce individual and corporate income taxes and eliminate the inheritance tax.
Legislative Bill 970 is opposed by the Nebraska Association of Counties, which argues that eliminating the estate tax would mean the loss of up to $48 million annually for counties, which are the sole recipients of the tax. Eliminating the tax would force them to raise property taxes, according to local reports.
Heineman, who testified before the Revenue Committee, first unveiled the plan last month during his state of the state address, and said it was his priority for the year.
“By improving our income and corporate tax rates, as well as repealing the final leg of the death tax, we will help hardworking, middle-class Nebraskans and our small businesses, while continuing to make Nebraska more competitive for high-quality jobs for the next generations of Nebraskans,” Heineman said.
He said the state could afford the cuts in part by not financing University of Nebraska’s requests for new laboratories.
