Locals and government officials voice frustrations at Hastings area property tax hearing

HASTINGS, Neb. — Many government leaders and citizens alike in the Hastings area are frustrated.

They voiced their frustrations at a public hearing Tuesday night. The hearing was mandated by a one-year-old law that requires a hearing for entities proposing to increase property tax revenues by more than 2% in the coming year.

Hastings Public Schools Superintendent Jeff Schneider is irked by the details of the law.

“If we’re going to have a pink postcard bill and we’re going to have these hearings, then let’s put the information on the bill because all these things do is confuse people," Schneider said. "It’s not even the whole story and it’s certainly not what your tax statement’s going to say in the end.”

HPS, the City of Hastings and Silver Lake Public Schools were the three entities in question. 

The proposed budget for HPS lowers its tax levy by 13 cents, or nearly 10 percent. Accounting for the city’s average of a 9% increase in assessed property value, Schneider says most people will actually pay slightly less money to the school district compared to last year.

“We are actually asking for less tax dollars than we did a year ago, but we qualify for this hearing because we’re not doing it all in the general fund,” Schneider said.

The city is proposing to keep its levy at the same amount as last year, citing large capital utility projects and a 10% increase in the general fund. Half of the general fund increase is to create a building maintenance department.

“This is something that the community has really been very clear in the fact that we need to do a better job with our maintenance of city facilities,” city administrator Shawn Metcalf said.

According to the taxing entities, part of the budget increases are in response to inflationary costs. The locals don’t think that’s justification for paying more in taxes.

“Everyone is feeling the pain of higher groceries, fuel and utilities. It’s not just the schools. Using that excuse to make taxpayers cut back even more so the schools don’t feel the pain is absurd.”

“Inflation is not going to be 10%, it’s not going to be 8% over this next year. You’re increasing our taxes but your expenses are not going to go up that much.”

“Raise the levy and get what you need. I wish I could do that with my boss.”

Most speakers mentioned they were upset with rapidly rising property valuations. But the hearing wasn’t for the county assessor’s office. 

“Most of you are here tonight because you’re upset about the tax structure,” Schneider said. “But we can all be here and be frustrated about it and that’s about what this accomplishes tonight but there’s way more to the story.”

Each of the boards are likely to approve their budgets in the coming weeks.