February 22, 2025

Sen. Rita Sanders, Chairperson
Sen. Megan Hunt
Sen. Bob Andersen, Vice Chairperson
Sen. Dan Lonowski
Sen. John Cavanaugh
Sen. Dan McKeon
Sen. Dunixi Guereca
Sen. Dave Wordekemper

Chairperson Sanders and members of the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee :

The Lincoln Public Schools appreciates the Urban Affairs Committee’s LR16CA, which proposes a Constitutional Amendment so that the state would not impose financial responsibility for a program or increased level of service for an existing program created after 2026 on any political subdivision unless that subdivision is fully reimbursed by the state for the increased level of service or a new program.  Reimbursement by the state would take form in a specific appropriation or an increase in revenue to a political subdivision. Thus, LR1CA would prohibit the imposition of further unfunded mandates.

The LPS Board of Education annually adopted Legislative Guidelines reflect the district’s long held belief that program mandates must have sufficient resources to be operationalized or that they will inevitably compromise the efficacy of existing initiatives due to resource limitations. Specifically, in our third standing Legislative Guideline we assert that mandated state and/or federal programs must have financial resources adequate to fund the requirement, or that they be optional for districts.

We reiterate our proponent stance for LR16CA and thank the Committee for its consideration of this important measure.

Sincerely,

Dr. John Skretta
Interim Superintendent
Lincoln Public Schools
402-440-9092