GOOD GOING

 

Taxpayer praise to all 7 Douglas County Commissioners who voted to lower the county property tax levy 1/2c per $100 of valuation, after finding that the county valuation increase averaged 11.5% instead of 9%.  Although property owners still will pay more property tax to the county because of inflation, Douglas Co. Commissioners made an effort to ease the tax hike pain.  Thank them.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com to join our NTF County Watch Project. 

            

DO IT RIGHT

 

To all who now squawk & holler about their property valuation/taxes rising after receiving their post card notices: Taxing authorities already have set their property tax rates.  The time to contest your tax levy was during the time that elected officials were preparing their annual budgets & providing a public hearing for taxpayer comment.  Plenty of time for homeowners to do budget analysis.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com for info on How to Monitor a Taxing Authority. 

                

WHAT AN INSULT

 

Southeast Community College insulted property taxpayers by hiking its tax levy immediately before a law removing most property taxing authority from community colleges takes effect, replaced with state aid.  It added another insult to taxpayers by reversing itself & canceling a scheduled event for conservative Sen. Kathleen Kauth.  Urge your state senator to cut state funding for SCC next legislative session.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com to join our NTF Education Watch Project. 

       

GET ACTIVE

 

OPS, the largest school district in the metro area, collects about 55%-60% of our total property taxes & instructs over 50,000 students.  Yesterday, the district held its public budget hearing.  Only 3 individuals, NE Taxpayers for Freedom members, testified on the budget.  If all the homeowners who complain about their high property taxes attended school board budget & other meetings, perhaps elected officials would pay more attention to taxpayers.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com to join the fight! 

TAKE THE CHALLENGE

 

Thousands of rural & urban property owners across the state loudly complain about their skyrocketing property valuations that continue to increase annually.  If all these complaining residents would attend their local taxing authority public budget hearings & demand that their elected officials lower the property tax levy to neutralize the valuation hikes pending the next election, officials would listen.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com for our budget speech template.    

                

DO IT NOW

 

Property owners continue to complain about skyrocketing property valuations, & rightly so!  You can whine.  Or, you can attend local taxing authority public budget hearings in Aug. & Sept. & request elected officials to ratchet down their property tax levy the same % as your valuation increased, thereby neutralizing much if not all of your valuation subject to property taxation.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com for a template to use at hearings.

                        

ACT NOW

 

The Omaha City Council public budget hearing is Tue.  In the budget is millions appropriated to the streetcar project.  Despite the Mayor & city council assuring taxpayers that city residents will not have to pay the streetcar bill, the local transit authority, which already levies a property tax, easily could assume responsibility for streetcar payments & stick a streetcar tax to Omaha taxpayers.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com to fight a streetcar tax. 

                                

DO IT NOW

 

Taxing authorities holding upcoming public budget hearings do not publicize them well, purposely.  They do not want taxpayers showing up to demand that they lower their property tax levies to neutralize recent valuation spikes.  Don’t let elected officials get away with saying they did not raise our property taxes by keeping the same tax levy.  See taxing entity websites for budget hearing dates.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com for our budget hearing testimony template. 

                                        

TAKE ACTION

 During July-Sept., local taxing authorities, e.g., cities, school districts set their property tax levies. Because property valuations have skyrocketed, eroding a portion of our property tax credits, most will pay higher property taxes in 2023. Unless we convince elected officials to lower our property tax levy rate. NE Taxpayers for Freedom has developed a standard speech for those courageous enough to attend upcoming budget hearings & demand a levy drop. Email netaxpayers@gmail.com.

ACT NOW

 

During July-Sept., local taxing authorities, e.g., cities, school districts set their property tax levies.  Because property valuations have skyrocketed, eroding a portion of our property tax credits, most will pay higher property taxes in 2023.  Unless we convince elected officials to lower our property tax levy rate.  NE Taxpayers for Freedom has developed a standard speech for those courageous enough to attend upcoming budget hearings & demand a levy drop.  E

mail netaxpayers@gmail.com.

ATROCIOUS

 

The legislature removed most property taxing authority from NE community colleges to offer property tax relief. However, before that takes effect, a few community colleges like SE Community College are increasing their property tax levies by 26% or more, which, combined with valuation hikes, will increase property taxes by 50%+.  This ruse also will increase their future state funding.  Contact your state senator to financially penalize these taxing authorities in the 2024 session. 

                

GET OFF YOUR REAR END

 

Today, 5 Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom members attended the Douglas Co. Board FY 2023-2024 budget hearing.  2 of us spoke.  Only 8 members of the public present.  If all the property owners who loudly complain about their property taxes would have attended this meeting to demand commissioners lower the tax levy to neutralize the valuation hikes, commissioners might have paid attention.  But it’s easier to only complain.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com to do more than complain. 

    

GIVE UP OR GET INVOLVED.

 

Beyond the July 4 fireworks, picnics, & parades, I hope that taxpaying conservatives realize the seriousness of the political & cultural war in America.  Our Founding Fathers sacrificed much to bestow upon us a constitutional republic.  Now, leftwing “progressives” & their moral degenerate allies plot to transform our republic into a socialist/communist Sodom & Gomorrah.  We can either be sheeple & meekly surrender our country or fight to retain the freedoms we still enjoy and can reclaim.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com to join the fight!

                                   

SO SAD

 

Good riddance to UN-O Chancellor Ronnie Green, who promoted Critical Race Theory all over that institution, permeating every aspect of campus life.  Unfortunately, his successor is the same proponent of CRT diversity, equity, & inclusion.  Thus, White students will feel like 2^nd class citizens on campus, made to feel guilt & shame. The NE university system soaks up lots of tax $$, so we must elect aggressive conservative regent candidates.  Volunteers?

                            

BAD TEACHERS

 

Opinion: A crowd of children participated in the teacher union rally against opportunity scholarships for underprivileged children.  This action proves that the teachers’ union is less interested in educating our kids than indoctrinating them to be budding leftists.  55%-60% of our property tax dollars fund public education.  Decline to sign the teachers’ union petition that would repeal opportunity scholarships.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com to join our NTF Education Watch Project. 

                

GREAT CHOICE

 

Although he has not formally applied for the position, OPS acting superintendent Matt Ray would be an excellent choice for permanent superintendent.  Ray consistently has solicited and replied to taxpayer inquiries about various OPS policies and management & pursued solid strategic goals.  This school district desperately needs such commonsense leadership and vision.  Lobby your OPS school board member to select Matt Ray.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com to join our NTF Education Watch Project.

                    

SHOCKING

 

OPS plans $2.2 billion in renovations for its schools.  It suffers a $1.4 billion deficit in its pension plan, its 2^nd billion $ shortfall caused by mismanagement & poor investment decisions.  The Legislature certainly will not bail it out, & the teachers’ union, the beneficiary of this generous pension plan, will balk.  Count on OPS to try to soak resident taxpayers to fund this pension debacle while its academic scores plunge.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com to join our NTF Education Watch Project. 

                    

VERY UNJUST

 

NE citizens must borrow $$, incur enormous debt, or sell homes in order to pay for dialysis treatments.  Yet, illegal aliens medically rewarded with free dialysis treatments by merely showing up at hospital emergency rooms.  Illegals actually sneak across the border to receive these treatments, not available in their home countries. Lobby Cong. Don Bacon to sponsor legislation to stop this travesty.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com to join our Project Immigration. 

                    

 

Between 55% and 60% of our property tax dollars fund public schools.  Taxpayers irate over pornographic books & sex-oriented clubs in our schools have a right to complain to elected school boards.  Those who are brave enough to challenge school boards deserve strong support from others.  Don’t be one of the sheeple.  Learn how to monitor & lobby your school board.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com for details. 

                

GUARD OUR DOLLARS

 

The Omaha library system wants to spend $215 million, mostly taxpayer $$, to expand & renovate the library system.  Before spending 1c, the Mayor & library board should resolve the raging public complaint that completing the library summer reading program for children, teens, & adults required participants to read an LGBTQ$%@ book.  Forcing library patrons to read a book to which they may object is reprehensible.  Complain to your city council member to cut the library budget instead.

                             

 

Leftist teacher union members will be out in force this summer to

 collect signatures on their petitions to eliminate school choice for

 thousands of underprivileged children helped by Opportunity

 Scholarships (LB 753).  This new law can be a precursor to

 expanding school choice to all NE families, e.g. $$ follows the

 child.  Join the effort to preserve this law & break the teacher

 union monopoly in education.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com 

today!

DESPICABLE

 

When angry Glendale, CA. parents sought to attend a local school board meeting to protest a pervert curriculum indoctrinating their children, a group of leftwing thugs beat them up.  Who did the school board members blame?  The parents.  To stop the labeling of angry momma bears as “domestic terrorists,” lawmakers should pass real hate crime legislation to protect them from radical goon squads.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com to join our NTF Education Watch Project. 

     

IT'S OUR MONEY

 

For many years, the Left has organized boycotts against businesses that support conservative & taxpayer-rights causes.  These radicals have destroyed products and harassed business customers.  Businesses jealously guard their profitability.  So, conservative taxpayers should use our monetary clout to not only boycott companies that cater to the Left but also patronize companies/personalities who support traditional taxpayer causes.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com to join our Conservative Consumerism Project. 

                                

STANDING STRONG

 

Much deserved political praise to Sen. Julie Slama for fighting to implement the full integrity of Voter ID.  Representing the many petition circulators who valiantly spent hours securing the needed signatures to place Voter ID on the ballot, Slama braved unwarranted criticism for demanding truly valid voter identification & validation of mail-in ballots.  Now, ballot harvesting & other illegal voting will continue unabated in NE elections.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com for our NTF White Paper.

                        

OUTRAGEOUS

 

Property taxpayers in Douglas & other counties received a seismic shock in the mail, their 2023 property valuation statements.  Valuations increased beyond 50%!  Understand that the previous Douglas County Assessor, Ms. Battiato, set the preliminary valuations, not the current assessor, Walt Peffer.  You can challenge your new valuation through June 30. Request a free NE Taxpayers for Freedom outline to help you challenge you valuation by emailing netaxpayers@gmail.com. 

       

EMAIL NOW

 

LB 50, originally sponsored by Sen. Geist, contained excellent criminal justice pilot programs & problem-solving courts as an alternative to prison.  The bill would offer opportunities for ex-cons to succeed & become productive citizens.  However, Sen. Wayne has injected amendments that would release violent criminals back into society prematurely.  Email your senator to vote NO on LB 50.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com to join our NTF Legislature Watch Project. 

                        

DO IT NOW

 

Lobby your state senator to uphold taxpayer-friendly gubernatorial vetoes of $10 million for studying gun violence in low-income areas ($500 million already invested there), $20 million for additional taxpayer-subsidized housing, court interpreters, & 15% salary hikes for some state employees.  These appropriations are all budget busters.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com for state senator contact information. 

                            

DO IT SOON

 

Socialist Democrat filibusters in the Legislature not only impeded the passage of crucial bills but also prevented full discussion of bills attached to omnibus legislation.  Because of Socialist Dem threats to continue the filibuster in future sessions, conservative senators must cooperate to change the rules to stop this threat.  Limiting filibuster tactics, censure, & even expulsion seem good remedies.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com to join our NTF Legislature Watch Project.

                              

GREAT BILL

 

Immediately contact your state senator to pull this needed bill out of General File: LB 28: Erdman.  If the Tax Equalization & Review Comm. has not reached a decision on a property tax appeal by the date when the first half of the following year’s property taxes fall delinquent, the assessed value for the property for the year of appeal will remain at the same value until decision finalized.  The interest rate on property tax refunds would increase from 9% to 14%. 

                     

A SOLID VICTORY

 

Thanks to 33 courageous state senators who withstood the vicious threats & interference from a leftist mob, NE taxpayers will not be forced to pay our tax $$ for gender transition or genital mutilation.  Generous helpings of political praise specifically to Sen. Kathleen Kauth, who bravely persevered with LB 574 to protect the lives of minors & unborn children.  Traditional family values triumphed over the Sodom & Gomorrah lobby yesterday.  More election victories in 2024 will expand these taxpayer victories.   

                                 

BEST ADVICE

 

Several fellow taxpayers have asked me what to do if their liberal state senator does not respond to any of their polite emails regarding legislation.  Repeated non-replies from such senators are really telling you that “you are not my constituent.”  In response, consider such an elected official “not my state senator” & proceed to criticize him/her continually in social media and editorials.  Blast their voting records & personal conduct to make them vulnerable at the next election.  

       

DISGUSTING

 

The following are the contributions that the horde of illegal aliens will be bringing into the U.S. & Nebraska: TB, syphilis, gonorrhea, leprosy, polio, cholera, diphtheria, smallpox, scabies, chicken pox, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections, & several other viruses.  Taxpayers will pay for their free medical care.  Meanwhile, illegal alien kids will spread these diseases in NE school classrooms.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com to join our Project Immigration. 

                    

NO THANKS

 

Received an invitation from Omaha Mayor Stothert to join her at the Cinco de Mayo parade.  Declined the invitation, because I celebrate only American holidays.  Instead of pandering to select demographic groups, our Mayor should concentrate on filling chuckholes with our street bond tax $$, abandon the streetcar dream, & lower our property taxes.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com to join our NE Taxpayers City Watch Project. 

                                                 

CHOKING ON ILLEGAL ALIENS.

 

As Title 42, the remain in Mexico policy, ends today, a tidal wave of thousands of illegal aliens will flood across our southern border, inundating border cities & other parts of our nation, including NE.  Illegal aliens in our schools & hospitals, on our welfare rolls, violent criminals victimizing hapless citizens & filling our courtrooms, jails, & prisons.  South Omaha already looks like a 3^rd World armpit.  Taxpayers will pay dearly.  Fight back. Email netaxpayers@gmail.com to join our NTF Project Immigration & lobby your congressmen to pass GOP House Bill 2. 

 

No doubt many of those who voted YES for the Westside & Papillion Schools bond issues soon will be whining about their property tax increases.  Some of these sheeple do not realize that their school property taxes (55%-60%) pay the principle & interest on bond issues.  Wake up sheeple!  Despite the massive new infusion of state tax $$, don’t expect school districts to lower your property tax rates because of spiking valuations.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com to join our Education Watch Project. 

SAD SACK ELEPHANT

 

The state GOP had a wonderful dinner the other evening, Elephant Remembers.  Perhaps some of the attending elephants can remember all the political races the NE GOP lost in 2022, 2020, etc.  All the back slapping and High 5’s will not change these results.  If true conservative activists ever replace the current Country Club Set, perhaps the NE GOP Elephant can toot its trunk & round up & support some winning conservative candidates with credible campaigns. 

GET ACTIVE

 

It is patently obvious that our nation is involved in a Culture War, whereby the champions of the Sodom & Gomorrah agenda have targeted our children for moral subversion.  Worse, the corrupters want to use our tax $$ to indoctrinate our kids in public schools, community groups, & libraries.  The mob of raucous freaks at the Legislature protesting LB 574 is only the first wave of the indoctrinated.  Taxpayers should not subsidize this cultural perversion.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com for details. 

                              

BOYCOTT THE BADDIES

 

113 NE businesses & nonprofits signed a letter to senators opposing LB 574, which would prevent the use of tax $$ for gender transitioning or genital mutilation.  A close examination of these entities reveals that many of those listed are politically Left.  Traditional values taxpayers may want to examine this list and spend consumer dollars elsewhere.  Contrary to leftist belief, passage of LB 574 actually will encourage companies with Nebraska values to locate here.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com for the list & join our NTF Conservative Consumerism Project. 

GREAT IDEA

 

One negative effect of the Socialist Democrat legislative filibuster is that senators are cobbling together many bills into omnibus bills, Christmas Tree bills, in order to hasten passage.  The problem is that in several cases, positive & negative bills impacting taxpayers are included, making it difficult to evaluate state senator votes.  Legislators seriously must consider changing the rules by discounting Present Not Voting from cloture vote totals.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com for details. 

LOBBY IMMEDIATELYL

 

Legislators will vote again on LB 574 this week.  NE Taxpayers for Freedom supports LB 574, because it prohibits use of taxpayer $$ to pay for gender transition or genital mutilation.  The vote will be close.  Socialist Dems will not compromise, & a few Republicans are wavering.  Email your state senator NOW to vote YES on LB 574.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com for our NTF issue paper you can use as talking points. 

BOYCOTT THE OMAHA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

 The Omaha Chamber of Commerce has joined leftist-progressives in opposing several high-profile conservative legislative bills, such as LB 574, which prohibits use of taxpayer $$ to fund gender transition & genital mutilation. The Chamber reiterated its commitment to diversity, equity, & inclusion (Critical Race Theory). The Chamber should concentrate instead on ending the filibuster that is delaying tax relief for businesses. Conservative business owners: Boycott the Chamber!

LOBBY NOW

 

Even though Sen. Carol Blood is a liberal, her proposed constitutional amendment is necessary: LR 1CA: To require the state to reimburse local political subdivisions for state- mandated services imposed on them.  GOOD RESOLUTION/ GENERAL FILE   PRIORITY BILL.  Lobby your state senator today to vote YES to pass this long-needed bill that will help local taxpayers.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com to join our Legislature Watch Project. 
                                

GOOD BILL

 

Lobby your state senator to pass LB 63, sponsored by Sen. Eliot Bostar.  His bill would prohibit NE telecommunication companies from gaining state Universal Service Fund money, if they use equipment manufactured by Huawei and ZTE, 2 Red Chinese tech companies designated by the FCC as national security threats.  The FCC banned the sale of various equipment from these 2 firms in Nov. 2022.  The companies use their equipment for espionage, and this bill would protect our national security.  The ban would take effect in 2025. 

    

GOOD GUY

 

Taxpayers in NE should commend State Board of Education member Kirk Penner for rebuking the NE “Teacher of the Year,” who apparently is enamored with Drag Queens.  This category of books belongs nowhere near our children.  This instance provides more reason why parents/taxpayers should guard our children from public indoctrination posing as public education.  Thank Kirk for standing up for our kids by emailing him at kirk.penner@nebraska.gov

SIGN ONLINE

 

According to Blueprint Polling, only 19% of Omaha voters support the streetcar proposal. 68% opposed it.  Opposition strong among both major political parties.  65% of respondents replied that they would never ride the streetcar.  Show your opposition by signing our NE Taxpayers online petition at ipetitions.com/petition/stop-the-wasteful-streetcar.  Help us circulate hard copy petitions by emailing netaxpayers@gmail.com. 

BEWARE

 

One more reason to support Donald J. Trump is that he gave us a huge tax decrease that not only protected our standard of living but also boosted our economy.  The Biden Regime is attempting to cancel several of these tax cuts in its FY 2024 budget.  If Biden wins in 2024, forget tax relief.  Show your Trump support loud & clear on social media & guest editorials.  Fly a Trump Flag.  Put up a yard sign.  Do not be intimidated or disheartened by the leftist media. 

AN OUTRAGE

 

About 60% of our property tax dollars fund public schools in Nebraska.  And what are these schools producing in part?  Hundreds of high schoolers skipping class to show solidarity with transgender advocates.  One more reason to pass school choice legislation in the Legislature.  Parents would have the opportunity to steer their children & teens away from hard-core leftwing public school teachers who indoctrinate, not educate, our kids.
Email netaxpayers@gmail.com to join our NTF Education Watch Project.

TAX PIT

 

City of Omaha officials refuse to admit that Omaha taxpayers will have to pay to maintain & operate the unpopular streetcar system, if the bonds don’t sell.  We do not see investors lining up in droves to buy these bonds.  War clouds are on the horizon, & a recession may be imminent.  Of course, the streetcar bonds may make clever conversation piece wallpaper in our homes.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com to join our NTF City Watch Project. 

WHAT A MESS

 

According to State Auditor Mike Foley, the bumbling state welfare dept. has not properly accounted for millions of dollars of taxpayer money.  It has had this problem for 8 years in a row.  Overpaying welfare recipients & welfare providers, dumping dollars in the wrong funds, missing money.  Not collecting overpayments.  Dept. heads need to roll.  New leadership needed.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com to join our NTF State Watch Project.

LOBBY HARD

 

If you have gone ballistic over your new property valuation increase, lobby your state senator to pass LB 317, which would give county assessors more leeway on how to set residential, commercial, or industrial property valuations.  The current Dept. of Revenue restrictions are so tight that assessors in both urban & rural counties have difficulty conscientiously setting valuations in a timely manner.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com for details.