 November 6, 2009
And we thought Nebraska would be spared.....
Perhaps the seemingly healthy Nebraska economy was in the backs of our minds as we senators approved a biennial budget last spring that we thought was lean - a budget with an average increase of 1.1% over two years. We were optimistic that our state would somehow be buffered from the economic woes of the coastal states.
But now, facing a projected revenue shortfall of $333.8 million through June 30, 2011, economic reality comes home to
roost.
Our attempt to find $334 million in budget cuts started with a look at the Governor's recommendations. His "special session call" limits what the Legislature can do to address the shortfall - budget cuts only. From there, it gets a bit more detailed. The Governor's budget recommendations include state agency reductions, general fund transfers, specific cuts and across the board reductions.
Friday, November 6th, marked the final day to introduce bills - a total of 16 bills were introduced. They include LB's 1, 2 and 3 that outline the Governor's recommendations; LB 5 is the Education Committee bill that changes TEEOSA, or state aid to schools. As a member of the Education Committee, I've looked closely at this proposed legislation. It's important to remind folks that LB 5 does not cut state aid to schools - it simply maintains state aid at its current level for the 2010-2011 school year and removes a projected increase in $45 million increase in state aid by adjusting specific portions of the state aid formula.
Other bills say "nay" to some of the proposed cuts, such as the Governor's recommendation to transfer funds from commodity check offs to the general fund. I signed on as a co-sponsor to LB 11 introduced by Senator Dubas. It specifically prohibits transferring commodity check-off dollars to the state general fund. I've heard from plenty of farmers and ranchers who adamantly oppose the Governor's plan to tap these check off funds to help balance the budget - I agree and will strongly oppose the transfer.
These are not easy times. Budget cuts are not pleasant decisions to make. Real people that live and work in our local communities will be directly affected by the proposed budget cuts. You don't have to be a state employee or a Medicaid recipient to be affected. Most of us utilize state agency services far more often that we realize.
I'm uneasy about all of this. No senator likes making cuts to programs that were put in place because someone thought they were good for Nebraskans. We want the ‘good life' to be the best in our state. But I'm equally anxious about revenue projections for the near future which seem to indicate even bigger revenue shortfalls down the road.
What does this mean for Nebraska's future? Can we really make government smaller? What services are citizens willing to give up? The session will continue......we will convene for the regular session in January. But I suspect that the conversation is really just beginning on what state government can do for all of us - with less.
I've appreciated hearing from many of you - either expressing your concern or weighing in on where we might make cuts. As the final bills come out of committee and onto the floor, I encourage you to monitor them and give me your thoughts.
If you have questions or comments regarding the Special Session, please call my legislative office at (402) 471-2631. My mailing address is: P.O. Box 94604, Lincoln, NE 68509. You may send email to:
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. Please include your full name and mailing address in your message which helps us identify you as a District 41 constituent so that we can respond to you.
As always, if you're in Lincoln while the Legislature is in Special Session, please stop by the Capitol to see your Nebraska Legislature at work.
We are made wise not by the recollection of our past,
but by the responsibility for our future.
~George Bernard Shaw~
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