LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts signed a new, $9.7 billion two-year state budget into law on Monday that includes property tax credits and money to potentially build a new state prison.
Ricketts praised several aspects of the budget, including $1.45 billion in state money that will be used for various property tax reduction programs. The budget will grow by 1.7% annually over the two-year period. Ricketts did not veto any portion of the budget.
“The budget I have signed controls state spending and significantly increases direct property tax relief for the people of Nebraska,” Ricketts said in a press release.
The budget also provides $1 billion annually in state aid to Nebraska’s K-12 public schools, expands a career scholarship program and kicks off the process of replacing the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln. Ricketts has pitched a new, $230 million state prison.
