Pink postcards will be costly

— Mark Mahoney Cedar County News

HARTINGTON - Taxpayers can expect some giant pink postcards to hit their mailboxes early in September.

A new law – the Property Tax Request Act – requires political subdivisions such as counties, cities, school districts and community colleges to inform taxpayers by mail if the subdivisions seek to raise their annual property tax asking by more than 2 percent plus real growth.

Those political subdivisions going over 2 percent must participate and take public comments during joint public hearings in each county.

Political subdivisions must inform county clerks of their intent to participate by Sept. 5 so that taxpayers can be mailed postcards at least seven days before the hearings.

In September, each county will mail affected taxpayers pink postcards that include details about the proposed increases and location information for the hearings, where the increases will be explained and members of the public can speak.

“At that joint public hearing, you have to put on a presentation and say, ‘Here’s why we’re asking for what we’re asking for,’” said Joe Cannon, the executive director of the Nebraska Association of County Officials, during a presentation to the Cedar County Board of Commissioners at its regular meeting on Aug. 23.

Cedar County’s hearing for political subdivisions has been set for 7 p.m. Sept. 26 inside the basement of the Hartington City Auditorium.

Cannon said the postcards go only to those taxpayers affected.

For example, if the county tax asking stays below 2 percent, then the postcards wouldn’t be mailed to those under the county’s levy.

But if Northeast Community College is an entity that goes above the 2 percent, then everyone in the county would be receiving a postcard as each county taxpayer pays the community college levy.

Cedar County Clerk Dave Dowling told Cannon the county contains close to 10,000 parcels of property.

“From what we understand – not just landowners or parcel owners – every parcel will get the postcard,” Dowling said.

Cannon confirmed that, saying some taxpayers could receive up to 30 postcards, all at the county’s expense.

Dowling noted the price per postcard is 51.1 cents.

“That’s just a ridiculous expense," Dowling said. "That's tax dollars being spent for no reason at all.”

Typically, no one from the public attends the county’s annual budget and property tax request hearings.

Cannon said there may be more than zero attendees for the county’s joint public hearing in September.

“Individuals are going to get this giant pink postcard – in some cases, a stack of giant pink postcards – in the mail that says, 'Here's how your taxes are going to be affected,’” he said. “That might get a few people to go.”

Cannon said to repeal the Property Tax Request Act would be expensive but encouraged Dowling to keep track of attendance at the joint hearing each year.

“We’re either going to go to the Legislature and we’re going to say, ‘Hey, you know what? We’re spending a million bucks statewide on this thing that’s not generating a lot of extra people. Get rid of it,’” Cannon said.

“Or we increase our civic engagement, which is always a good thing, and ‘I guess we keep this thing, but oh by the way, we still have these two other hearings that no one attends. Get rid of those,’” he said.

The Property Tax Request Act passed in 2021 is commonly known as "Truth in Taxation," and has been adopted in various forms in Utah and other states to raise public awareness and participation before local governments vote on property tax increases.

He also gave updates on other laws and legislative bills affecting the county during his presentation to the commissioners.

Part of Cannon’s responsibilities is to lobby the Legislature on behalf of Nebraska’s 93 county governments.

“It is your association,” Cannon said. “I consider myself your employee.”