PROPERTY VALUATION TOWN HALL MEETINGS

Once again, property owners in each county in Nebraska face higher property valuations on their residential and commercial properties, even though the recession has caused market value of property to decrease, in some instances substantially. According to state law, county assessors can examine sale prices of similar homes that sold during the years prior to the current recession and value a home based on not so recent sale price. Thus, a home that sold 5 yrs. ago for $250,000 might not sell for more than $215,000 now, but the valuation for a similar nearby home continues at $250,000. Counties are overvaluing homes, because special interest groups like the public education lobby depend on higher valuations to accrue more tax dollars through property tax rates. The long-range solution is to change the state law on valuations, so that they will not spike continually and cause property tax hikes, even if property tax rates remain the same. We invite everyone to attend our Property Valuation Town Hall meetings on Tuesdays, June 16, June 23, and June 30. Come to Millard Library, 132nd & Westwood Lane, in Omaha at 6 PM. You can see a Power Point presentation and receive a hard copy packet, instructing you how to challenge your property valuation increases this year. Please bring your 2008 and 2009 valuation statements and pen and pad. The only way we taxpayers will stop the property valuation and tax spiral is to mobilize and fight the High Taxers and Big Spenders until we overwhelm them. See you at one of these meetings, and bring friends & neighbors!