LINCOLN — A Nebraska state senator is warning that a proposed overhaul of school funding could undermine classroom quality, even as the state works to reduce property taxes. At a meeting of the School Finance Review Commission (SFRC), Sen. Danielle Conrad emphasized that the state must remain committed to education, not just tax relief.

Conrad pointed out that while reducing property taxes is widely supported, the conversations around revising TEEOSA — Nebraska’s school-aid formula — have largely ignored persistent challenges like teacher shortages, burnout, and declining student achievement. She argued that the reforms cannot be “tax cuts at all costs” and urged the committee to remember TEEOSA’s dual goals of funding equity and educational quality.

At the same meeting, Sen. Myron Dorn noted that state funding for schools has nearly doubled since 2020, yet he expressed concern about the long-term sustainability of proposed revenue sources. He warned that the Education Future Fund — a potential source of new funding — could be depleted within two years if current budget forecasts prove accurate. Looking ahead, the SFRC plans to issue its first formal report to the Legislature by December 1, then move into a second phase focused on concrete recommendations for improving (or potentially replacing) TEEOSA.

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