Omaha residents express their views on a partial referendum on private education scholarships

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – On Saturday, the Nebraska Secretary of State’s Division of Elections held public hearings on all 6 Nebraska ballot initiatives, one of which was a partial referendum on private education scholarships.

On November 5, Nebraskans will vote on a partial repeal of LB1402, a law passed in April. Section 1 of House Bill 1402 earmarks $10 million of the general fund, public money, for scholarships to private schools.

Tim Royers, president of the Nebraska State Education Association, hopes voters will repeal them. Before the public hearing, Royers and his supporters wrote handwritten letters to send to voters stating why they should repeal the law.

“Unfortunately, we have seen lower academic outcomes for all children, whether they attend private or public schools,” Royers said. “The other thing we’re seeing is that these programs are growing tremendously and taking up more and more of state budgets every year.”

He fears that failure to repeal could mean more public money going to private institutions.

“This comes at a time when many school districts in the Omaha area are seeing cuts in state funding,” Royers explained. “Bellevue, Gretna, Papillion, Millard – they all lost millions of dollars in state funds this school year. So at the same time that these communities are seeing a loss of support, we are now siphoning off tuition dollars from private schools, and that is the fundamental problem.”

He argued that the program could raise property taxes if not repealed.

“Even if students leave our public schools under the voucher program, our schools’ spending will not be reduced,” Royers said. “So if we eliminate state funding but there is no cost reduction, it will have to be through our local property taxes, otherwise we will simply have to cut teaching positions and cut programs.”

Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn introduced LB1402. She told 6 News the bill is intended to provide more opportunities for children.

“The children we leave behind are low-income children whose parents have no choice but to move to Elkhorn, or to the Westside, or to Millard,” Senator Linehan explained. “I don’t think it’s fair that you have kids who don’t have options when we’re a city full of options.”

Says 1402 does not divert funds from public education.

“Two years ago, when we passed the original school choice law, we also dramatically increased public funding,” said Senator Linehan. “We have committed $1 billion to the Future of Education Fund. We used to pay 40% for special education, we know we pay 80%. This one thing costs $150 million, so we increased the public scores for special education by $150 million. If you’re not an equalized school, you may not get very much money per child, so right now every child in a public school in Nebraska, regardless of formula, gets $1,500 per student, so in the program these increases cost $328 million. The scholarship program is worth $10 million.

During the public hearing, opponents and supporters talked about LB1402 and why it should or should not be repealed. Omaha Senator Justin Wayne justified keeping LB 1402 in place.

“I was against school choice 15 years ago, 10 years ago, 8 years ago, 7 years ago, but for the last 5 years I have no longer had a choice,” said Senator Wayne. “A North Omaha child needs a chance, this parent needs that choice. Therefore, I am asking you to vote to keep 1402.”

Arizona, Iowa and Florida have passed similar laws.