Buffalo County proclaims opposition to hard caps on local spending ahead of Nebraska special session

The Buffalo County Board of Commissioners on July 23 adopted Resolution 2024-30 urging state leaders to pursue tax reform that preserves local control and opposes strict expenditure caps that would limit county budgeting authority.

Chairperson Ivan H. Klein read the proclamation into the record and the Board voted unanimously to adopt the resolution (motion by Bill Maendele; second by Myron Kouba). The resolution says the Legislature is expected to convene for a Special Session called by the governor on or about July 25 to consider a tax reform package and expresses the Board’s concern that a “0% or CPI, whichever is greater” hard cap with limited exceptions would prevent counties from meeting mandates and providing core public-safety and infrastructure services.

The Board’s resolution cites rising inflation, competitive personnel markets and growing service demands as reasons local budgets are strained and stresses that any statewide limit should account for the differing needs of Nebraska’s counties. The resolution notes Buffalo County’s support for the Nebraska Association of County Officials (NACO) Board in opposing a strict hard cap and affirms the county’s preference for reforms that retain local discretion.

No public speakers addressed the Board on the proclamation during the meeting. The Board recorded its findings in Resolution 2024-30 and entered the resolution into the official minutes; the resolution text includes the Board’s formal findings and statement of support for locally responsive tax policy.