Sen. Tanya Storer hears APHIS, Chadron Fire Department ask for state support on predator control

Sen. Tanya Storer met with the Dawes County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 12 and discussed several policy issues including predator control funding, broadband and tax policy. Representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) described current funding levels and urged state-level support to sustain predator control programs.

Ryan Powers of APHIS told the board that the federal government receives roughly $400,000–$500,000 for predator control efforts and that counties together contribute about $60,000. Powers said state funding for predator control was eliminated in the late 1980s and that a cooperative agreement with the state would help maintain the program. He said APHIS would provide additional data to Sen. Storer and her office; Storer said she would raise the issue with the governor during a meeting the following day.

Officials from the Chadron Fire Department attended and were briefed that a C-Plane agreement for wildfire control is in place for the next 90 days. Sen. Storer also addressed broadband access: Commissioner Jake Stewart flagged broadband concerns and Storer said the broadband office had requested an extension to address access issues. On tax matters, Storer described property taxes as an ongoing concern—she said she favors reform rather than relief—and stated she would not support repealing the inheritance tax without replacement revenue. She noted LB 383 (Parental Rights in Social Media Act) had passed and referenced LB 170 in broader tax discussions.

The board did not take formal action on predator control funding during the meeting; APHIS representatives said they plan continued outreach and meetings to pursue legislative assistance. The meeting adjourned at 11:14 A.M.