LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s tax incentives for businesses will face greater scrutiny under a measure advanced by lawmakers.
The review program given first-round approval on Tuesday is designed to show whether the incentives are meeting goals set by lawmakers. Legislative auditors would review each tax incentive at least once every three years.
Sen. Dan Watermeier of Syracuse, chairman of the Performance Audit Committee, says the process will help lawmakers determine whether each program is benefiting Nebraska’s economy.
The bill advanced on a 37-0 vote.
A legislative committee concluded in a report last year that Nebraska has no way to judge whether its tax incentives have succeeded in attracting and retaining businesses. In some cases it wasn’t clear whether the businesses would have come to Nebraska without an incentive.