Nebraska

Nebraska

Budget Cycle
Biennial  

Governor Submits Budget
January 15

Fiscal Year Begins
July 1 

Governor Signs Budget 
June

Proposed Budget Adjustments - Fiscal Years 2026-2027

On January 15, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen announced proposed adjustments to the current biennium budget. The governor’s recommendation provides for a decrease to the net General Fund of $94 million in fiscal 2026 and $208.6 million in fiscal 2027. The balance of the general fund at the end of the biennium is projected at $458.9 million which exceeds the minimum three percent general fund reserve requirement of $333.6 million. The cash reserve fund is projected to have a balance of $821 million at the end of the biennium. The combined ending balance of the general fund and cash reserve fund is projected at $1.28 billion, which represents 24.19 percent of total General Fund appropriations in fiscal 2026-2027


Proposed Budget Highlights 
The governor’s proposed adjustments focus on the governor’s priorities of investing in kids, lowering taxes, supporting agriculture, and protecting Nebraska values. Recommendations include the following: 

Conservative Balanced Budget

  • Reduces spending by 1.1 percent this biennium. 
  • Makes strategic cuts to recognize operational improvements, reverse prior spending expansions, and leverage available resources. 
  • Recommends transfers from various cash funds to the General Fund and reduces transfers out of the General Fund. 

Property Tax Reform

  • Increases property tax relief. 

Education

  • Invests funds to support school choice scholarships. 
  • Allocates additional funds to the Education Future Fund. 

Workforce

  • Expands the Business Innovation Act by providing funds for a public-private partnership to administer the program to help create jobs in the state. 
  • Directs funds to strengthen and expand the Workforce Development Program which helps kids graduate, supports apprenticeships, and provides scholarships in key industries. 
  • Provides funds to expand military sector workforce opportunities and grow the national impact of the Offutt Air Force Base.