John Skretta
5905 O Street
Lincoln, NE 68505
District 28
Opponent
Representing:
Lincoln Public Schools
Chair Linehan and members of the Revenue Committee:
We are familiar with the key plan components of this legislation and have had the opportunity to discuss the plan in its current iteration as LB9 with Senator Hughes. We appreciate Senator Hughes’ outreach and engagement with school leaders to share the bill. We find broad agreement with key elements of the plan such as: a backstop provision to be made whole if the state cannot commit its share of funding; preservation of local control; and enshrining a carryover provision.
While there are elements of LB9 for which we can be broadly supportive, and the intent of the bill is agreeable in that it would work to bring levies across the state closer together while maintaining significant local levying authority, Lincoln Public Schools is opposed to LB9 as introduced. That is for two main reasons: first, LB 9 provides a disproportionately high benefit to agricultural land, as opposed to residential based on the following factor: it lowers valuation assessed percentage within TEEOSA from 72% to 42% for Agricultural but only from 96% to 86% for residential and commercial land. Thus, this plan produces a more favorable outcome for high agricultural land districts than it does districts that are mostly residential.
Second, LB 9 in its introduced version proposes to eliminate the averaging adjustment. This adjustment is for large school districts that function efficiently and have a lower than average basic funding per student than other large districts, and this element attempts to draw them closer, thus “averaging.” The averaging adjustment is a long-standing factor in state aid and is a significant component for LPS and similar districts across Nebraska. LPS will receive almost $7M in the averaging adjustment for 24-25.
Thus, LPS is opposed to LB9. With a willingness from Senator Hughes to revisit these above stated objections and amend the bill accordingly, we could foresee further productive discussions on LB9.
John Skretta, Ed.D.
Associate Superintendent for Civic Engagement
Lincoln Public Schools
