February 5, 2026
Sen. R. Brad von Gillern, Chairperson
Sen. Mike Jacobson, Vice Chairperson
Sen. Eliot Bostar
Sen. George Dungan
Sen. Teresa Ibach
Sen. Kathleen Kauth
Sen. Dave Murman
Sen. Tony Sorrentino
The Lincoln Public School District opposes LB 1219. School districts already function under a levy lid, a soft cap for access to revenue, and budgetary growth limitations. LB1219 imposes a punitively restrictive limit on the ability of districts to generate needed revenue to remain viable operationally and instructionally. LB 1219 does not account for the system of funding schools in the state of Nebraska. Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Support Act (TEESOA) lowers state equalization aid as valuations rise and schools must have access to the increase in property taxes to even reach neutral funding levels.
The addition of another hard cap as proposed by LB1219 imposes an unrealistic restriction on the ability of school districts to meet annual cost increases attributable to operations and employee compensation (salary, wages, and benefits). Our locally elected school boards have maintained fiscally prudent budgets and are best positioned to make determinations regarding the needs of the Lincoln Public Schools.
Sincerely,
Liz Standish
Associate Superintendent for Business Affairs
Lincoln Public Schools
lstandis@lps.org
402-436-1635
