Commentary: Next steps for Nebraska's Future

1 Feb 2025
News
We have a new year, a new Congress, a new Legislature, and a new president. Within the policy and political world, there is a whirlwind of change and a mix of excitement with equal amounts of uncertainty. Both state and federal government policy and budget decisions made in the next few years will considerably impact Nebraska’s future, good or bad.
Fortunately, we are starting from a very good position. Throughout Nebraska, there are clear signs of a resurgence of economic and community development in communities large and small. Whatever happens in Washington, D.C., or Lincoln, this local momentum is essential to sustaining our quality of life and economic opportunities for our children and grandchildren — a duty we all have as Nebraskans.
However, as we survey our members, hold town halls and review nonpartisan research reports, there are consistently two clear priorities to stay focused on:
Growing population and workforce: Given declining birth rates and “brain drain, ”bolder steps are required to retain and attract young people and their families to our communities. For our state to thrive, our communities and infrastructure must be inviting and competitive, offering people of all backgrounds and economic circumstances the opportunity to pursue the American dream. We must consider all options, including welcoming legal immigration, building affordable housing, making childcare more accessible and affordable and creating more robust education-to-career pathways and connections for our young people in Nebraska.
Embracing and advancing technology and innovation: In many ways, every portion of our economy is becoming technology-driven, and all companies are becoming technology companies. Young workers will increasingly be attracted to states that offer a great quality of life and a great technology branding and environment. Nebraska must not shy away from technology growth but position itself as an innovation destination — by removing red tape that stands in the way of technology dynamism, expanding our broadband and energy infrastructure, and supporting new cutting-edge industries while growing technology-enabled expansion in existing fields.
Challenges ahead
This year’s Legislature will be working in a fiscally challenging year given our revenue base, Medicaid cost increases, and increasingly large general fund transfer commitments. There will be little room for new spending and investments. In this environment, it may well be prudent to take a careful and comprehensive look at revamping the bundle of methods we have cobbled together over many decades to attempt to resolve the property tax problem.
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