LINCOLN, NE – Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen indicated on Monday that he may be pivoting away from his initial property tax reduction plan to embrace a plan emerging from a broad swath of special session bills.
The plan, assembled by State Senator Lou Ann Linehan of Omaha and the Revenue Committee she chairs, seeks to offset about $1.8 billion in school-related property tax revenue. The committee plans to use Legislative Bill 9 to outline the compromise elements instead of Pillen-backed LB 1.
As in Pillen’s proposals, much of the plan would be paid for by applying the state sales tax to items and services not taxed today. More than 70 goods and services would be added to the state tax rolls, including personal services such as lawn care or swimming pool maintenance.
The new plan would raise taxes on alcohol and would begin taxing candy, gambling and soft drinks – as Pillen’s plan did — but the new plan wouldn’t add quite as much to the cost of such goods as the governor proposed.
A big shift from Pillen’s proposal is which items and services would keep their sales tax exemptions. Pillen, for example, would have taxed home and auto repairs and legal and accounting services. The new proposal wouldn’t.
The new plan would get rid of a proposed tax on advertising and cloud or data services.
It would, however, extend a 2% sales tax to new agricultural or manufacturing machinery and equipment, instead of Pillen’s push to tax all machinery or equipment. The 2% sales tax would replace the personal property tax paid on any new versions of those items.
The new plan would use state tax dollars to take the state’s 23 natural resources districts off the property tax rolls.
It would have the state take over $181 million in funding for county jails. And it would protect the homestead exemption, which Linehan said would cost less than the homestead program does currently because of state education funding.
Pillen didn’t respond directly when asked whether he was still pushing to reduce property taxes by a specific percentage. He said he wants structural relief and spending caps that create lasting relief. He also still wants spending cuts.
“This is not the governor’s plan,” said Pillen. “This will be a plan of the peoples, and the Unicameral working together to fix the problem.”
ST. PAUL, MN (Mike Moen / Minnesota News Connection) – Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris has introduced Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate.
The timing comes amid conversations about whether voters have a bigger appetite for less divisive politics. Analysts said policies deemed progressive Walz has signed into law, such as a 100% carbon-free electricity standard, are things likely to be debated in the campaign. He has also emphasized bolstering reproductive rights.
David Schultz, professor of political science at Hamline University, said those can get people motivated to vote, whether you are for or against such moves. Some voters say Walz also represents a sense of normalcy, and Schultz pointed out there are signs the electorate wants common ground.
“If you actually poll people on a variety of issues, whether it’s gun safety, immigration, helping the poor and so forth, there’s actually much broader consensus in America on a whole range of issues,” Schultz observed.
Walz also signed a law making school lunches free for all students, regardless of income, a move that had bipartisan support. Like other political scientists, Schultz added at the end of the day, the vice presidential pick usually does not move the needle much in determining the race for the White House, with only a few high-profile examples in recent decades.
Steve Simon, Secretary of State, when asked what it means for leadership in Minnesota, said nothing changes for the time being. Walz is still allowed to be governor while campaigning for vice president. Minnesota has seen politicians such as Walter Mondale and Hubert Humphrey go on to serve as vice president but the logistics were a little different from what might happen with Walz.
“The other two Minnesotans who served as vice president did so as sitting United States senators, which didn’t kick off any sort of state constitutional process like this at all,” Simon recounted. “There were other succession issues but not succession issues like this.”
If the Harris/Walz ticket wins this fall, Walz would have between the election and Inauguration Day to resign as governor. Lieutenant Gov. Peggy Flanagan would then become governor, making her the first Native American woman to hold such a seat. The Minnesota Senate president, Democrat Bobby Joe Champion, would then be elevated to the state’s second-in-command post. That would create the need for a special election to fill his legislative seat.
SOUTH DAKOTA Undated – South Dakota Health Link is the state’s health information exchange which is working to strengthen its partnership with Health Catalyst, Inc., a top provider of data and technology services for healthcare across the country. This new agreement will bring enhanced technology and services to promote the security and safety of sharing patient healthcare information.
“Through our partnership with Health Catalyst, we have been able to build, enhance, and expand the Health Link network to include new services and technologies that meet the growing demand of our members. We look forward to the new and innovative technology that will be available to our network to continue our core mission – Exchanging Information. Changing Lives.” said Melissa Magstadt, DOH Cabinet Secretary.
Health Link is a state-designated Health Information Exchange system that helps share healthcare information in South Dakota and includes members in Wyoming, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, and Nebraska. Over the past twelve years, the Health Link team has worked together to share information safely and improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of healthcare for everyone.
A significant enhancement will be the inclusion of Ninja Universe, which collects and improves healthcare data from different sources in real time. The platform has various parts that help Health Information Exchanges, like a Clinical Data Repository and a Patient Comprehend Community Health Record. It also has unique apps and expert services to make things better and faster. Doctors, pharmacists, social workers, and others from hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, jails, state agencies, and home care facilities will use Ninja Universe to get notifications, share information at the point of care, and gain insights to improve care quality and decision-making.
“Since 2012, South Dakota Health Link and Health Catalyst have worked together to help care providers securely access the data they need to make more informed decisions about patient care. We’re grateful for the opportunity to continue our partnership and look forward to all we can achieve together in support of South Dakota Health Link’s mission, utilizing the power and interoperability of Ninja Universe,” said Dan Burton, CEO of Health Catalyst.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (South Dakota Searchlight) – A foundation that helps fund outdoor recreation projects in South Dakota has launched a $10 million fundraising campaign.
The five-year effort aims to support 28 projects across the state that would otherwise face delays due to budget constraints.
Representatives of the South Dakota Parks and Wildlife Foundation discussed the campaign at the Downtown Sioux Falls Rotary Club’s Monday meeting at the Holiday Inn Sioux Falls City Centre. The foundation works with the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks to fund projects that improve outdoor recreational facilities and conserve wildlife habitats.
The campaign is titled “Great Places Don’t Just Happen.”
“Without the foundation’s help, these projects are going to take years and years to happen,” said Jeff VanMeeteren, GF&P director of parks and recreation.
The projects range from amphitheaters, hiking trail bridges and playgrounds to a proposed $1 million west-side welcome center for Custer State Park.
Kevin Nyberg, foundation board member and president of the South Dakota Retailers Association, highlighted the economic impact of outdoor recreation in the state, which he said amounts to $1.3 billion annually. He said that includes $638 million from hunting, $271 million from fishing and $212 million from parks.
“Those businesses that benefit off the system, in my opinion, need to realize the system helped make them, and give back to the system,” Nyberg said.
In addition to the campaign, the foundation is raising $3 million for an expansion of the Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls. The project will feature new indoor and outdoor archery ranges, a game processing space with a walk-in cooler, a meat smoking and grilling space, and an improved bird viewing area.
Past foundation projects include funding the new visitor center and renovation of the Peter Norbeck Outdoor Education Center at Custer State Park. The foundation has also supported the development of Good Earth State Park, and the expansions of Rapid City’s Outdoor Campus and Palisades State Park near Garretson.
The foundation took in $1.38 million in revenue in 2023 and spent $4.5 million, leaving it with $12.4 million in total assets. Kristina Coby, the foundation’s executive development director, said those assets include land the foundation owns and makes money on through leasing agreements, and endowment principal that the foundation cannot touch.
Projects that would benefit from the South Dakota Parks and Wildlife Foundation’s $10 million campaign:
Mickelson Trail: Kaubisch Bridge replacement; Signage
Palisades State Park: Split Rock Creek bridge; Amphitheater; Playground surfacing
Fort Sisseton State Park: Displays; Playground; Visitor center; Amphitheater/Event stage
Hartford Beach State Park: Indoor fish cleaning station
Oakwood Lakes State Park: Education center
Lake Herman State Park: Education center
Lake Poinsett Recreation Area: Indoor fish cleaning station
Custer State Park: Welcome Center West
Good Earth State Park: Playground; Observation deck
Walkers Point Recreation Area: Picnic shelter
Lake Thompson Recreation Area: Picnic shelter
Pickerel Lake Recreation Area: Picnic shelter
Big Sioux Recreation Area: Picnic shelter; Amphitheater
Adams Homestead: Playground additions
Lewis and Clark Recreation Area: Playground
Springfield Recreation Area: One to five-acre land acquisition
Wall Lake Lakeside Use Area: Island access bridge
Newton Hills State Park: Sargent Creek overlook platform
Cow Creek Recreation Area: Playground
Spring Creek Golf Course: Trail
