Whereas, the State of Nebraska has the 6^th highest Effective Real Estate Tax Rate in the nation as percentage of median home value (source wallethub.org, Senior Editor John S. Kierman); and

Whereas, the citizens of Lincoln are facing the largest increase in residential property valuations in a decade (source Lincoln Journal Star); and

Whereas, the Lincoln Public School District has announced plans to maintain the district’s general fund tax rate at the state-imposed lid of $1.05 per $100.00 of valuation (source Lincoln Journal Star); and

Whereas, the Lincoln Public School District’s failure to reduce the general fund tax rate will result in a windfall in tax receipts to Lincoln Public Schools in the amount of $18.2 million per year or $54 million dollars over the next three years if residential property value assessments remain at current level; and

Whereas, in the span of five years spending at the Lincoln Public School District will increase 27 percent if the proposed $420.8 million budget is approved while enrollment will increase by half that at 13.5 percent during the same period (source Lincoln Journal Star); and

Whereas, the Lancaster County Republican Party supports maintaining quality public schools for Lincoln citizens, it also recognizes that the Lincoln Public School District is betraying an important trust with the citizen taxpayer by not reducing the general fund tax rate; now therefore

Be it resolved that we urge the Lincoln Public School District to reduce the proposed general fund tax rate to avoid a windfall in tax receipts resulting from a substantial increase in residential property valuations.

Adopted this 3rd day of August, 2017, at the Monthly Executive Committee Meeting of the Lancaster County Republican Party of the State of Nebraska.