Nebraska should have clear goals and a public record of whether we’re meeting them. So here they are.
Open any row to see why it matters and check the numbers.
Spend much more than 30% of income on housing and there's less left for everything else. Federal housing programs draw the line there too.
Assumes a 30-year mortgage (Freddie Mac, Oct 29, 2026), 1.47% property tax (Nebraska Revenue, 2025), insurance (Insurance.com, 2026) and the Omaha metro median price (Redfin, Jan–Jun 2026). Tax and insurance are statewide averages. This is our estimate and leaves out mortgage insurance and special district levies. For 2024, Flatwater Free Press reported a statewide gap near $15,000.
Income decides what a family can afford and whether people stay. There's no official target, so we compare with the country. These figures aren't adjusted for cost of living.
Median household income, 2025. Close gaps can fall within the margin of error. Census ACS.
Long drives can delay or disrupt prenatal care. Researchers often use 30 minutes, but we found no official standard for how far is too far.
The 16% comes from a University of Nebraska Medical Center researcher, reported without a year. We're looking for a stronger source.
When voters decide something, it should happen. Where a measure sets its own dates, those are the test.
Months from approval to taking effect. Paid sick leave met its Oct 1, 2025 date. Other measures' dates are still being checked, and the payday loan cap's start date is unconfirmed. Cannabis status, Sept 2026.
A shortfall means spending cuts, tax changes or drawing down savings. A reserve is the cushion for a bad year, and state law requires at least 3%.
In July the state showed $208.6 million short through June 2027 and $846.7 million short for the two years after. October's forecast cut revenue by about $355 million, bringing that to about $1.2 billion. These projections will change.
Legislative Fiscal Office, July 2026 and Nebraska Examiner, Oct 2026.