Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Nebraska real property valuations, 2023 to 2024. A preliminary 2023 report shows real property valuations increasing by double digits in 50 of the state's 93 counties. Cheyenne County is the only county where valuations overall decreased. The data includes the change of residential, commercial and agricultural property across the state. A report on personal property or state assessed property values will not be complete until August 2024.
Recently, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen penned a short column focusing on property valuation increases throughout Nebraska, and summed up the reaction most Nebraskans had with one word, "outrage".
"Countless Nebraskans are in disbelief when they see the recent increases in their home values," Pillen said.
Pillen chalks up much of the over double-digit increases in valuations to "special interest groups (that) have intimidated and paralyzed our Legislature".
A preliminary report on real property tax valuation estimates for 2024 shows double-digit increases in 50 of the state's 93 counties. Boone County had the highest increase, with a 27.9% valuation bump.
However, one county out of the 93 saw a decrease in valuations. For all the talk of high taxes here in Sidney, Cheyenne County is the only county in Nebraska to see a valuation decrease.
Cheyenne County's real property valuations came in at -.37% from 2023 to 2024. The state's 93 counties averaged an increase of 10.55% from 2023 to 2024. Cheyenne County Commissioner Phil Sanders commented on the news and said that he gives most of the credit to the county's Assessor, Jordan Hajek.
"She's doing a great job and is very thorough, and she has stood up to the state many times challenging valuations, and she always has her facts and numbers right," Sanders said.
"People often think that we're the ones raising taxes when the blame should go to the state-level politicians. They're the ones that pass the tax laws and increases that we have to implement," Sanders said.
Sanders also mentioned that he and Commissioners Johnson and Miller are going to do everything they can to decrease the mill levy for next year.
"I can't guarantee that we're going to lower it, but we're not going to increase the levy," Sanders said.
The Sun-Telegraph will be focusing on tax valuations, levies, and other spending measures here in Sidney and Cheyenne County in the coming weeks.
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