Pink Postcards have arrived in the mail of most Custer County Residents. The postcards are an indication that property tax rates are about to increase by more than the otherwise allowed amount.
The postcards are an invitation to a hearing to be held Monday, September 22 at 6:00 PM at the Broken Bow Municipal Building on the topic of the tax increase.
By Nebraska state statute, the tax levy is allowed to be increased by an amount linked to the overall rate of inflation in any given tax year. A public hearing is required when tax levies exceed this amount. This year, three different area subdivisions will surpass the threshold required to hold a hearing.
Custer County is proposing an increased tax levy from $.209 per $100 to $.210. This represents an increase of $444,667 from last year’s budget.
Sargent School District is increasing their tax levy from $.77 to $.79, representing an overage of about $120,000.
Callaway School District is increasing their taxes from $.66 to to $.69, an increase of $400,000 over last year.
While state legislative action varies the specific requirements for a hearing from year to year, the general requirement to hold hearings on excess tax increases was added to Nebraska statute about three years ago according to Custer County Assessor Elise Taylor. This is the first year Custer County itself will participate in such a hearing.
Taylor and others have noted that if citizens have questions or concerns about this or any other government actions, it is critical that they attend the various open, public hearings and meetings. Participation in these meetings not only allows an individual’s questions to be answered, but provides important feedback to government representatives and officials about their constituents’ expectations.
