BEATRICE – Legislative opponents of the process used to work toward a balanced budget were giving one last pushback today, as final approval of Nebraska’s new two-year spending plan was given.


Most of the criticism was directed at the move to use cash transfers and sweeps to balance the budget. Senator Wendy DeBoer said, "I have no confidence in this budget. I have no confidence in these cash sweeps. I know that we raised fees in order to use them for general funds. The emperor has no clothes. This budget is based on a series of sleight of hands...with cash transfers where the money is maybe not there."


DeBoer says the balance in the budget is based on “questionable pillars’, including cash transfers that she feels don’t add up.


"Sweeping from cash funds, which first of all, are one-time use funds....and second of all, are there for a specific purpose. We don't just have cash funds sitting around for no reason. They support specific things that our state government does. And when we sweep funds out of those things, what happens to the functions that were being supported by those things?"


Concern was expressed about the constitutionality of taking funds from things such as the Environmental Trust Fund and the Board of Educational Lands and Funds. Senator MaKayla Cavanaugh said the state was taking money from various funds to pay for property tax relief, for a state prison and a canal project in western Nebraska.


"Not to pay for SNAP benefits, not to pay for childcare subsidies, not to pay for affordable housing, not to pay for problem-solving courts for veterans. But, to pay for property tax relief for the Governor and members of this body. We are taking money from teachers. God bless Nebraska."


Cavanaugh described it as stealing money because the body has decided to make it legal.


State lawmakers gave final approval to LB 261 for the expenses of state government and appropriating federal funds from ARPA….by a 37-11 vote. LB 264, on the cash fund transfers and elimination of some programs, passed on a 35-13 vote.


Another budget measure…LB 260…passed 41-7. A budget bill for salaries of legislators was approved on a vote of 40-9. LB 263, salaries for constitutional officers, was passed on a 42-7 vote.


All of the budget measures carry the emergency clause, going into effect upon signing by the Governor.
Also passing with the emergency clause was LB 534….approving claims against the state….by a vote of 49-0.