Ricketts hints at ballot measure if property tax push fails

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts will push to reduce property taxes during this legislative session by limiting local government spending, and he warns the issue could go to voters if lawmakers don't approve changes.

Ricketts said he's hopeful lawmakers will take steps to slow local government spending, similar to a package he proposed last year that faced strong resistance from K-12 schools. Lawmakers ultimately approved a tax credit for property owners to offset some of their local property taxes but scrapped provisions that would have restricted school spending.

“It's important that the Legislature acts on this or, as history demonstrates, the people of Nebraska will do it for them,” Ricketts said in an Associated Press interview.

Ricketts declined to say whether he would support a citizen-led ballot measure to restrict local spending, but the former TD Ameritrade executive has a history of bankrolling ballot campaigns with his own money.

Read more: https://fremonttribune.com/news/state-and-regional/ricketts-hints-at-ballot-measure-if-property-tax-push-fails/article_8bebb36d-a65d-5f8e-b2b7-2bf8e746b0db.html