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Property owners in Nebraska are expected to pay local schools, governments and other groups $153 million more in property tax money than the previous year when all 2009 payments are made.
Overall, the amount of property taxes levied increased 5.63 percent, according to a new report from the Nebraska Department of Revenue. Almost two-thirds of the tax increases are on existing property, while the rest came from new construction and voter-approved bond issues. The figures include real estate as well as business property, such as equipment.
Property owners are allowed to pay their 2009 tax bill in two installments this year. Douglas, Lancaster and Sarpy County owners must make first half payments by March 31 and second half payments by July 31.
Owners in all other counties have until April 30 and Aug. 31.
The statewide increase in levied taxes was slightly higher than the increase from 2007 to 2008. However, when real estate and the economy were stronger in the middle part of the last decade, tax levies rose 7 to 9 percent annually.
Property taxes support schools, counties, cities, community colleges, natural resources districts and fire districts. Property tax bills are based on the county’s valuation on a property and tax levies set by those local governments. The state does not receive property tax revenue.
The state reported that property tax revenue rose 5.36 percent in 2009 in Douglas County and 4.28 percent in Sarpy County.
Tax bill increases in those two counties were driven by higher tax rates set by local governments and schools to make up for lost revenue from the economic slump or to pay for growing expenses.
The assessed valuations of most properties in Douglas County were left alone in 2009, while many properties in Sarpy County received small valuation decreases.
Lancaster County was one of the few Nebraska counties with lower levied taxes last year; the county’s total valuation base dropped slightly.
Morrill County saw the greatest increase in levied taxes at 35.99 percent, followed by Knox County at 21.94 percent and Furnas County at 21.20 percent.
Morrill and Furnas Counties saw higher valuations from newer ethanol plants, while Knox County has a new wind farm, said Ruth Sorensen, state property tax administrator.
Morrill also had to greatly increase property valuations because its assessments did not meet state standards last year, Sorensen said.
Contact the writer:
444-1149, tom.shaw@owh.com
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