'Printing Press for Local Government': Pillen Slams 'Stunning' Increase in Property Tax Valuations by County Assessors
by John Gage
(Picture credit John Gage)
Governor Jim Pillen took aim at local county assessors during his monthly call-in show on Monday, saying there had been a “stunning” increase in valuations across the state. The comments were prompted by callers upset at receiving their annual property valuations from their assessors.
“The hardcore reality is it’s not working because there are loopholes,” Pillen said in response to a caller from McCook. “As valuations go up, no levies are changed. It’s just a printing press for local government. Each of us gets frustrated when we get something from government, and it hides behind state statutes.”
“What’s going on with county assessors across the state is unacceptable in my eyes, and we have to get it fixed, and we have to get it fixed at the state level,” he added.
Pillen said attempts to reform valuations were being thwarted by opponents who argued that valuations were needed so that people could borrow money against their property. “No, let’s not talk like that,” Pillen said. “That’s not at all true.”
Another caller from North Loup told Pillen the valuation raises in their county were “outrageous.” “I don’t know how the farmers are going to survive,” the caller said. “Nebraska is supposed to be a farm state, a livestock state, but if taxes are going to stay like this, you are not going to have a state.”
In Valley County, where the caller was from, property valuations have gone up 12% year over year.
“What has taken place with the assessors in the past two weeks has been stunning,” the governor responded.
According to the latest numbers from the Nebraska Department of Revenue, assessments statewide for property taxes went up across all 93 counties an average of 6.4% or 5.3% if you exclude growth.
The Plains Sentinel has reached out to the Nebraska Association of County Officials for comment on the story.
— John Gage is the executive editor of The Plains Sentinel.