LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Governor Pete Ricketts says he's confident Nebraska can balance its budget this year while chipping away at the taxes that he says are hindering job growth.
The Republican governor tells The Associated Press the state needs to continue focusing on property taxes this year, but acknowledges that the work will be ongoing.
Ricketts will present his budget recommendations to lawmakers on Thursday in his first State of the State address. Though he declined to give specifics, the new governor says lowering property taxes are his top priority.
Nebraska lawmakers are constitutionally required to balance the budget, and the state faces a projected $50 million shortfall in its next two-year budget.
Ricketts says he's spent "easily over 70 hours" reviewing the state budget with advisers to put together his proposal.
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