NEBRASKA TAX COLLECTIONS CONTINUE TO ROLL IN ABOVE PROJECTIONS

LINCOLN — Nebraska tax revenues continued flowing in at a higher-than-expected pace during the first quarter of the fiscal year.

The Nebraska Department of Revenue released a report showing that the state netted $155.9 million more than predicted for July through September. The state netted $100.8 million more than predicted for September alone.

Gov. Pete Ricketts said the report supports efforts to add to the tax reductions passed in the last few years.

“Nebraska’s tax receipts continue to grow beyond our expectations as a result of our state’s booming economy,” he said. “Strong receipts are setting us up to deliver even more tax relief for the hardworking people of Nebraska.”

The unexpected revenue is enough to wipe out a projected $101 million shortfall — and then some — for the two-year budget period that started July 1. The shortfall appeared after the amount needed for Nebraska’s newest property tax relief program was factored into the state’s financial status.

Record tax revenues for the fiscal year just ended required the state to transfer $548 million a year into the program, under which property owners get income tax credits to offset a portion of their school property taxes. State law determines the amount of the credits based on the growth of tax revenue.

The $548 million transfer meant that property owners would get credits equal to about a quarter of their school property taxes when they file their 2021 income taxes. But it also reduced the amount of tax revenue available for the state budget.

The monthly report of tax receipts showed that net revenues exceeded expectations in each month of the current fiscal year, with actual net revenues topping expectations by 19.2% in September.

Lydia Brasch, a Revenue Department spokeswoman, credited the state’s strong economy for the tax revenue growth.

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