For the eighth time, Nebraska Sen. Justin Wayne has introduced a bill that would overhaul the way the state spends on education. “At the end of the day, if you want to solve the property tax problem, you have to start with education,” he says. Wayne testified Wednesday before the Unicameral Education Committee on LB 1231, a bill that would repeal the Tax Fairness and Educational Opportunity Assistance Act, commonly known as TEEOSA. His bill would distribute $4,750 in per-pupil spending to every school district in Nebraska. Additionally, the following increases are possible: School districts with smaller populations will receive an additional $500 per student. There is an additional $1,600 per student for free lunch. If free lunch students exceed 50% of fall membership, districts will receive an additional $800 per student. An additional $1,600 per student with limited English proficiency. According to the Nebraska Department of Education, this would increase the state's responsibility for education spending by $691 million for the 2025-26 school year, according to a fiscal impact report. Property taxes would be affected because school districts would not have to tax property owners as much. Wayne said property tax reductions would be larger in rural areas than in metropolitan areas such as Lincoln and Omaha. “I don't think the state should be picking winners and losers when it comes to kids, and I think the state should be providing the same funding to all kids, no matter where they are,” Wayne said. “If a local school district needs more support, it will empower local governments.” The new funding formula will cover key costs for teachers, paraeducators and students. Masu. The bill also limits class sizes by varying degrees from kindergarten to his 12th grade. The district will need local funds to pay for administrators, capital costs and specialized areas such as zoo schools and criminal justice programs, Wayne said. No one testified in support of the bill. The Greater Nebraska School Association, which represents school districts that cover 70% of all public school students, testified in opposition to the bill. “The problem we see is that at this point we don't know who the winners and losers of this bill are,” Kyle said. Fairbairn and GNSA. Fairbairn said GNSA is also having trouble with class size requirements at a time when it's difficult to hire educators. The bill remains in the Education Committee and has not yet reached the full Nebraska Legislature.
For the eighth time, Nebraska Sen. Justin Wayne has introduced a bill that would overhaul the way the state spends on education.
“At the end of the day, if you want to solve the property tax problem, you have to start with education,” he says.
Wayne testified Wednesday before the Unicameral Education Committee on LB 1231, a bill that would repeal the Tax Fairness and Educational Opportunity Assistance Act, commonly known as TEEOSA.
His bill would distribute $4,750 in per-pupil spending to every school district in Nebraska. In addition, the following increases are possible.
- Districts with smaller populations will receive an additional $500 per student
- Free lunch $1,600 per student
- If free lunch students exceed 50% of fall membership, the district will receive an additional $800 per student.
- $1,600 per student with limited English proficiency
The state's responsibility for education spending will increase by $691 million for the 2025-26 school year, according to the Nebraska Department of Education's fiscal impact report.
It would impact property taxes because school districts would not have to tax property owners as much.
Wayne said property tax reductions would be larger in rural areas than in metropolitan areas like Lincoln or Omaha.
“I don't think the state should be picking winners and losers when it comes to kids, and I think it should provide the same funding to all kids, no matter where they are,” Wayne said. “If a local school district needs more support, they have local government authority.”
The new funding formula will cover key costs for teachers, paraeducators and students.
The bill also limits class sizes by varying degrees from kindergarten through 12th grade.
Wayne said the district will need local funds to pay for administrators, capital costs and specialized areas such as zoo schools and criminal justice programs.
No one testified in support of the bill.
The Greater Nebraska School Association, which represents school districts that cover 70% of all public school students, testified in opposition to the bill.
“The problem we recognize is that we don't know who the winners and losers of this bill are at this point,” said GNSA's Kyle Fairbairn.
Fairbairn said GNSA is also having trouble with class size requirements at a time when it's difficult to hire educators.
The bill remains in the Education Committee and has not yet reached the full Nebraska Legislature.