For decades, Nebraska’s public school funding system has exerted a major influence over the state’s tax policy.
In 1989, the state adopted the Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Act (TEEOSA), in an attempt to alleviate disparities in property tax burdens and education funding between districts by having the state take on a larger responsibility for funding public schools.
However, in the last 30 years, this funding formula has become outdated and increasingly failed to reduce property tax burdens on school district residents, especially those in rural areas.
Currently, Nebraska ranks third in the nation for the proportion of total K-12 public school revenues