Editorial

Now's the chance to make your voice heard on state budget

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

It's no surprise, but reality is setting in now that the Legislature is set to deal with a revenue shortfall.

Meeting Tuesday, the Nebraska Economic Forecast Advisory Board revised tax receipts downward by $297.3 million over the biennium, which added to a $36.5 million loss in tax receipts in May and June of the last fiscal year, means the state's revenue shortfall is about $335 million.

Gov. Dave Heineman called the Unicameral into a special session beginning at 3 p.m. Wednesday, saying the national economic slowdown "is unquestionably impacting Nebraska tax receipts.

"The careful fiscal discipline that Nebraska has practiced has better positioned us to address the immediate and direct effect of reduced tax receipts and our ability to meet our current obligations," the governor said. "I am confident that we can weather this fiscal storm."

One step Heineman opposes in weathering that storm is raising taxes, saying now is absolutely the wrong time to do that, and he's right.

But he also mentions Nebraska's "careful fiscal discipline," which can be translated to mean there's not a lot of fat to be trimmed from the biennial budget before vital services begin to be cut.

Have concerns or suggestions?

There's a new Web site just for you. the site, www.NebraskaBudget.com, includes a form asking questions about budget priorities and about financial challenges faced by visitors to the site.

The responses will be sent to the Legislature's Appropriations Committee and the governor.

Or, contact your legislator or the governor directly:

Sen. Mark Christensen

District 44

Room 1000

P.O. Box 94604

State Capitol

Lincoln, NE 68509

Phone: (402) 471-2805

E-mail:

mchristensen@leg.ne.gov

Or the governor: