It's Time for a
Regulatory Audit

Date: [Auto-fills with Today's Date] To: Honorable Lancaster County State Senators Re: Protecting Nebraskan Taxpayers from Municipal Overreach (LLCHD Redundancy) Honorable State Senators, I am writing to you today not just as a concerned citizen, but as an advocate for the economic prosperity of Lincoln and the integrity of Nebraska’s public health system. Currently, Nebraska is facing a projected $432 million budget shortfall, which threatens the Legislature's promise of statewide property tax relief. In the midst of this financial strain, local proxy agencies like the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department (LLCHD) duplicate the efforts of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) while burning through millions in taxpayer funds. The citizens and business owners of Lincoln suffer under a system of double taxation and double regulation. In addition to funding State government, Lincoln residents are burdened with heavy property taxes averaging 1.5% to 1.99%, much of which gets filtered into funding massive, locally redundant administrative budgets like the LLCHD's $25.7 Million allowance. On top of these raw taxes, local sectors—ranging from hospitality to body art and cottage foods—are forced to pay duplicate permit fees to both the city and the state. This costly duplication leads to aggressive municipal overreach. Time and again, the LLCHD has subverted state statute (such as defying LB 304) and ignored its own written protocols, choosing instead to arbitrarily shut down thriving local businesses without due process or scientific evidence. The Political and Economic Solution is a Win-Win: We urge you to examine the redundancy of the LLCHD’s Environmental Health divisions. By supporting statutory preemption (such as a Uniformity Act restricting municipal health codes from exceeding State DHHS standards) and pushing to dissolve these redundant local divisions, you can return oversight directly to the State. This action is immensely popular with voters. It allows lawmakers to deliver measurable property tax relief by saving the Lincoln taxpayer an estimated $8.5M to $10M annually, while simultaneously cutting red tape and protecting Nebraska’s small businesses from municipal harassment. A coalition of citizens has compiled a public fiscal review of the LLCHD’s most egregious actions and the millions of dollars lost as a consequence. I strongly encourage you to review the data compiled here: www.LLCHDAccountability.com We look to you to champion economic freedom and end this costly administrative redundancy. Sincerely, [Your Name Auto-fills Here]