Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts has signed the $9.7 billion two year state budget. State Senator Steve Erdman of Bayard says the budget process was different this session because of the pandemic relief money provided to the state. He says overall it’s a pretty good budget.

He doesn’t think the property tax relief provided in the budget legislation is very significant and more needs to be done to address that continuing problem.

Erdman says the major problem is the present tax system remains broken and the focus has not been on fixing it properly.

Erdman has introduced a bill calling for a consumption tax that would replace property, income and sales taxes. That is contained in an amendment to be decided by the voters.