New Nebraska State Treasurer Reflects on First Month in Office

Last month saw the changing of the guard at Nebraska's state treasurer post — a former lawmaker passing the torch to a former mayor.

State Treasurer Joey Spellerberg has been in the role for about a month now, and he took on the job during a time of year-to-year financial turbulence for the state. Spellerberg said one of his priorities is being treasurer for all Nebraskans.

"I look forward to getting out to Nebraska and hearing from them on what their priorities are," he said. "My goal as treasurer is gonna be to serve."

Spellerberg grew up in the Cornhusker state, went to Alabama for college and then bounced back to take over the family business, the travel agency Moostash Joe Tours.

"I'm a boomerang," Spellerberg said. "I started in Nebraska, I moved away, but we wanted to raise our family in the Midwest and especially in Nebraska."

Then in 2020, he took the reins of the city of Fremont, serving as mayor as the wave of the COVID-19 pandemic smashed into the country.

"Being a business owner, being able to make payroll, being able to get through COVID and persevere through that, and also being able to serve as mayor and lead a community, I'm going to bring that experience to this office," he said.

Gov. Jim Pillen appointed Spellerberg, saying he was a "no-brainer" to replace then Treasurer Tom Briese when he looked to resign.

The job of treasurer is expansive. Spellerberg serves as the state's chief financial officer, manages Nebraska's public funds, handles state money, administers the Nebraska Educational Savings Trust and Enable Savings Plan and manages unclaimed property.

Spellerberg said he wants to pursue growth strategies like the ones he relied on as mayor in Fremont.

"That's gonna need to be a focus for us, is how do we bring people in in Nebraska? How can we bring new business in?" he said.

Spellerberg also hopes to expand the role's educational impact.

"One of the things I'd like to do is help with financial literacy throughout Nebraska," he said. "You know, the value of compound interest, Albert Einstein said that was the eighth wonder of the world, right? Being able to set up our young people."

Spellerberg will have a key role in shaping the state's future finances. He said the state's $471 million budget deficit will be a major hurdle for the Legislature to clear next session, but he says the bigger picture is rosier.

"The state is in a healthy fiscal place right now," Spellerberg said. "We're in a healthy spot when it comes to the Treasury. Treasurer Briese said we're not broke and we're not. We have a good cash reserve in a lot of areas."

Spellerberg said he plans to run to retain his office next year.