Nebraska lawmakers finalized and passed the state’s $11 billion two-year budget on Thursday.
Numerous bills comprise the mainline budget, but some lawmakers in opposition suggest it’s unbalanced and may create issues down the line. Read the full breakdown by Nebraska Examiner here.
Governor Jim Pillen thanked the Legislature for passing the “historically conservative 2025-2027 biennial budget package,” saying it “maintains spending on key priorities while addressing the forecasted budget gap projections for the biennium.”
“I thank the Legislature for rolling back expanded spending, putting idle pillowcase money to work, and having the courage to say no to more spending increases. This budget puts money toward education, property tax relief, elimination of the developmental disability waitlist, and bolsters our national nuclear security, all while closing the $432 million deficit reported in November. With this balanced budget, we have the opportunity to make further investments in addressing our property tax crisis,” Pillen said in a statement.
State Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Omaha disputed the Governor’s characterization of “balanced,” saying, “We’re just making it look like it’s balanced.”
Pillen said he will review the budget package delivered today for any additional spending reductions, which would result in line-item vetoes.