Review of county budget begins

Roads. Roads. Roads. Roads. 

This year’s county tax asking is projected to increase by $341,000 over the current year’s tax request, according to budget figures reviewed at Monday’s regular commissioner meeting. 

Commissioner Chair Ron Hagan said a $100,000 increase in each of the road budgets for District 2 and District 3 represent a big share of the increase.

That, coupled with money budgeted for the hiring of a paramedic for the county ambulance and a cost-of-living raise for employees, represents a 10% increase in total tax askings for the county’s proposed budget for the 2021.

Jim Brueggeman works with the various county departments to prepare the budget, in addition to his other duties as sheriff, emergency manager and building and ground supervisor. 

He told the commissioners the proposed budget will also include moving $100,000 from the inheritance tax fund into cash reserves. 

This will build up the county’s cash reserves to $1.8 million in an overall budget that exceeds $9 million annually. 

As part of new legislation passed in the Nebraska Legislature, the county will be required to send post cards to property owners informing them of the increase in property taxes requested. 

In addition, the county budget hearing must be held separately from any other county meeting. In the past, the budget hearing could be held in conjunction with a regular commissioner meeting. 

The budget hearing is planned for the end of August.

Commissioner Steve Tucker met with representatives of the hospital Monday to discuss the county’s intention to hire a paramedic for the county’s ambulance service. 

The goal of hiring a paramedic is to recoup revenue of patient transfers to other hospitals. 

Certain patient conditions require a paramedic be onboard the ambulance during a transfer. In those cases, a paramedic service in Ogallala run by Regional West of Scottsbluff takes over the transfer. 

Tucker’s meeting with hospital officials Monday sought to gauge the hospital’s interest in sharing paramedic services in some way. 

Ethanol Plant Valuation

At the commissioner’s July 19 meeting, Madrid ethanol plant shareholder Steve Hanson, along with attorneys representing the company were present. 

Hanson questioned the board on why they continue to appeal the assessed valuation of the plant for 2018, 2019 and 2020.

He noted the Tax Equalization Review Commission (TERC)already ruled on the plant’s valuation, setting it at $7,336,042. That value was later affirmed by the Nebraska Supreme Court. 

Perkins County initially assessed the property value of the plant at $16,364,768. 

 For 2018, 2019 and 2020, the county set the value at $13 million, which has also been appealed to TERC by the company.

Hanson said the valuation has been established at $7.3 million by both entities yet the county wants to value it at $13 million. 

Taxes have already been paid by the company on the $13 million valuation. If the valuation is dropped, taxing entities will have to refund that money again, Hanson noted. 

But this time, interest starts accruing at 9% following passage of a bill in the 2021 legislative session. That’s going to cost the taxpayer until all of the money is refunded. 

He noted the ethanol plant not only creates 30 jobs but adds value to the corn grown in this region, resulting in higher prices paid to farmers for their corn. 

He said the county continues to chase a higher valuation when a ruling already set it at $7.3 million. “That’s the number, guys.”

Commissioners responded that the latest appeal heard recently at TERC for 2018, 2019 and 2020 will provide a definitive value. 

Hanson said the county’s actions continue to cost the county and ultimately the taxpayer.