Ricketts on Conservative Think Tank’s Tax Survey: It’s ‘Inaccurate’

Ricketts on Conservative Think Tank’s Tax Survey: It’s ‘Inaccurate’
Gov. Pete Ricketts (RYAN SODERLIN/THE WORLD-HERALD)
Omaha, NE.—Governor Pete Ricketts has one word for a new tax study that disagrees with his plan to cut property taxes. And that word is "inaccurate." Ricketts sharply disagreeing with a survey from the Platte Institute, a conservative think tank founded in part by Ricketts. According to the survey, 61 per cent of some 300 on-line respondents said they are okay with paying other taxes if it means a cut in property taxes. Fifty-five percent specifically said they'd be okay with paying more in state sales taxes. "You can't raise taxes to lower taxes it doesn't make any sense," Ricketts tells News Channel Nebraska. "I think their survey is inaccurate. With all due respect I travel the state more than they do and I've talked to a lot of folks and I know Nebraskans are not interested in tax increases. What they want to see is real tax relief." At the same time Ricketts is defending his battles to lower property taxes the past four years. Democrat Bob Krist, who is running against Ricketts, and some Republicans in the governor's own party complain the governor hasn’t done enough.

But Ricketts, who touts $840 million in property tax relief, blames the Legislature for not doing more.

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