Four votes.

That’s the bottom line as lawmakers line up for and against the Governor’s push to limit spending by local officials.

Last year a bill to cap the growth of yearly local property taxes to 3 percent fell four votes short of breaking a filibuster on the floor of the Legislature.

Gov. Pete Ricketts today joined a group of state senators on the Revenue Committee to make it clear that he’s ready for round two of that fight over local spending.

Ricketts: “And that fell four votes short but that's going to be a key part of any tax relief program. I have told folks that I don't have a problem spending money on education but the education establishment has to be willing to start taking controls over how fast those askings are going up so that we can make sure that money that we provide in relief goes into people's pockets."

Critics of Ricketts' plan argue the 3 percent lid would make it difficult for local governments to keep up with their voters' wishes and if voters disapprove of any spending they can vote local officials out of office.

Another complaint is that high property taxes are due to unfunded and underfunded state mandates that need to be reduced.

Ricketts say changes in the bill are likely in order to find those four votes but he won't say what those changes are.