Blair resident Mick Mines, a North Bend native, talked with Rotarians Aug. 9 about the previous and upcoming legislative sessions at the capitol.

 

The unicameral will head into the next fiscal year with a projected $251 million shortfall, mostly due to fixed costs like Medicaid and education aid. The solutions are to either raise taxes and cut expenses, he said. 

 

Nebraska is down $700 million in its cash reserve, but, Mines explained, "A lot of states don't have cash reserves."

 

"Revenue is projected to be neutral going forward," he said. 

 

Mines addressed the rising agricultural land values. 

 

"Will we see property tax relief next session? No," he said.