Reasons to repeal LB753

Dear Editor,

Enough petition signatures by Aug. 30 will allow voters to decide to keep or repeal LB753 in Nov 2024.

Religious (parochial) schools are “private” schools. 85% of our private schools are religious schools, most of only two church doctrines.

Our Nebraska State Constitution prohibits giving public funds to private schools (Articles VII-1. and VII-11 – the underlying principles are separation of church and state and private business.)

LB 753 violates the spirit and intent of the Constitution. It goes around the Constitution by scheming taxes to support private schools.

LB753 gives a tax credit — only to individual/corporate donors who contribute to selected private/religious school tuition scholarship Organizations instead of the usual tax deduction they (did get instead) and other non-profits (will still) currently receive. Under lb753, private school tuition scholarship organizations would be given preference over all other 501c3 charitable nonprofits. Examples of these other nonprofits are churches, food banks, cancer research, Veterans organizations, homeless shelters, animal shelters etc.

The difference is that a tax credit gives these private scholarship donors a dollar-for-dollar off their state income taxes. A tax deduction gives only about 7 cents per dollar off of a donor’s state income taxes. That’s over 14 times more benefit for private scholarship donors. Here’s an example: a corporate donation of $5,000 could yield a tax credit of $5,000 off their owed taxes, while a tax deduction would yield only about $350 off their tax bill. In addition, the organization can now take $500 of that money.

LB753 was financed and/or lobbied by the Catholic Conference, by out-of-state organizations that favor private schools over public schools, and some governors and lawmakers (some who accepted monies and belong to primarily two church doctrines that will benefit from this law).

LB753 allows these private scholarship organization tax credits to start out at $25 million growing to $100 million annually. Other states with similar laws continue to see huge increases in the costs of their programs.

Importantly, when fully implemented, lb753 would drain and divert $100 million from the Nebraska general fund.

This is the state fund that helps pay for such things as public schools, veterans' homes, roads, prisons, community colleges, libraries, disabilities, Medicaid, and all state agencies’ operating expenses like salaries, healthcare, maintenance, etc. Also importantly, when the general fund’s obligations cannot be met, the options are to increase taxes or cut important services. So, yes, lb753 will take money away from public schools as well as other essential Nebraska public services.

Find out more at Support our Schools Nebraska (SupportOurSchoolsNebraska.org)

Teri Hlava,

Lincoln, Neb.