WAYNE – A northeast Nebraska state senator posted her final weekly update in the month of October this past Friday.
According to a release from the office of District 17 Senator Joni Albrecht, she provided more veteran news from the 2019 session, mentioned state earnings are looking good and talked about a look ahead.
In addition to the bills Senator Albrecht talked about in last week’s update, she was proud to introduce LB223, which specifies duties of the state with regard to state-sponsored insurance programs for members of the Nebraska National Guard.
Also passed was her resolution, LR150, recognizing National Poppy Day and the work of veteran poppy makers that help celebrate and remember the lives lost in World War I. The resolution noted that National Poppy Day is celebrated in memory of all veterans who have given their lives, the ultimate sacrifice; and red crepe paper poppies have been made, worn, displayed and distributed for fundraising efforts by veterans’ groups such as the American Legion Family and American Legion Auxiliary for decades to serve as a powerful reminder of the cost of our country’s freedom. Among those named as veteran poppy makers committed to our renewed remembrance throughout the country, is Wayne’s own Dennis Otte.
Albrecht last reported in the August 2 weekly update of about $131.4 million in revenue exceeding the April 2019 forecast for General Fund receipts for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018-19. As required by state law, those additional earnings went to the State’s “Rainy Day” fund. Now after the October meeting of the Nebraska Economic Forecast Advisory Board (NEFAB), the senator is happy to report that the board has raised the revenue forecast for FY 2019-2020 by $161 million and for FY 2020-2021 by $105 million. This significant increase over the next two fiscal years provides the Legislature with a greater opportunity to achieve meaningful property tax relief going into the 2020 session.
And as the 2020 Legislative session gets closer, the senators will continue to work together focusing on property tax relief. The Revenue Committee has been meeting regularly as a committee, and with senators, to work towards meaningful relief. The increased forecast provides good news towards the efforts. On November 21, the Revenue Committee hopes to unveil a Revenue bill for review by senators at the Legislative Council meeting in Nebraska City.
Senator Albrecht will also be looking forward to witnessing the Nebraska Supreme Court in action during oral arguments on two cases at South Sioux City Middle School at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, November 1. The event is open to the public, but is designed for high school students as part of the Nebraska Supreme Court High School Outreach Argument Program.
Contact Albrecht by phone at 402-471-2716 or by email at jalbrecht@leg.ne.gov.