Daily Minute: Senators still skeptical; Lincoln gets new park; roster limits coming

Senators still skeptical

Nebraska lawmakers remained broadly skeptical of Gov. Jim Pillen's tax plan Thursday as they convened in Lincoln for the first day of the special legislative session the governor called to push for property tax cuts — which the Legislature intends to deliver with or without elements of Pillen's plan, senators said.

After portions of Pillen's proposal to cut property taxes by as much as 50% emerged in pieces this summer through his town hall series, leaked documents and a news conference last week, Pillen's full, written plan was unveiled as a bill Thursday.

Introduced on Pillen's behalf by Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, LB1 offers the finalized details of the governor's broad plan to cut property taxes by more than $2 billion, funded by $400 million in spending reductions, retooling $910 million worth of existing tax relief programs and the elimination of numerous exemptions — the component of Pillen's proposal that lawmakers have blasted as a "reverse Robin Hood scheme."

Mere hours into the special legislative session Thursday, it remained clear that Pillen's proposal does not have the support of enough senators to become law.

Lincoln gets new park

Lincoln will have a new park in northwest Lincoln near 27th Street and Arbor Road on a portion of 154 acres that will also include conservation of 21 acres of saline wetlands and will eventually become the new headquarters of the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District.

The land was purchased from private owners in February for $3 million by the Solidago Conservancy, which works with landowners and other partners to conserve natural areas. The deal took years of planning by various groups — and a $1 million donation by the Dittman family and Cornhusker Bank.

The new city park — which will be located on 58 acres of the land — will be called Cornhusker Bank Park and will be open, though not fully developed, by the end of 2025.

Roster limits coming

And, roster limits are coming to college football and Nebraska will be among the schools most affected.

The Huskers and their team of roughly 145 players will need trimming whenever the cap is determined. A total of 105 has been a common number floated this week, meaning Nebraska will have a flurry of decisions to make to slim down.

Rhule wondered aloud if players who are injured in the offseason count toward the roster limit. One example for the Huskers is wide receiver Dimitrus Bell, who suffered a season-ending injury in the spring game.

That’s it for Friday, July 26. Stay in the know with Lincoln’s longest-standing news source at JournalStar.com and we’ll see you back here on Monday.