The annual comparison of property taxes compiled by the City of Norfolk for 30 of the largest communities in Nebraska is out.
And it shows Norfolk still ranks near the bottom with the third-lowest levy among cities. But that is up slightly from 2008, when it had the lowest.
It’s a different story for the Norfolk School District. It rose to near the top of the list of school districts, coming in with the third highest. That’s up from 12th in 2008.
City and school taxes are two large pieces of the overall property tax pie. When all the other government entities also are included — making up the consolidated levy — Norfolk places in the middle of the pack at 14th.
Total property taxes on a $100,000 house in Norfolk are $2,094 versus $1,931 in 2008.
In the city with the lowest consolidated levy, York, the tax bill for a $100,000 house was $1,834. In the city with the highest, Plattsmouth, it was $2,371.
Columbus has the second lowest consolidated levy among first-class cities. The owner of a $100,000 house would pay $1,871 there.
Norfolk rose from the bottom of the list because elected officials decided to increase property taxes to accumulate funds for the city council’s priority projects.
Mayor Sue Fuchtman last September cast the tie-breaking vote that boosted the increase to $400,000 rather than $200,000 contemplated by half of the council.
The city’s levy is .196 cents per $100 of assessed valuation compared with .133 cents in 2008.
The Norfolk School District’s levy rose from $1.22 in 2008 to $1.30. The highest school levy of $1.34 was at Nebraska City. The lowest of $1.04 was at Alliance.
School taxes went up because of several building projects, including an addition to Norfolk High School and a renovation of Lincoln Elementary. Also, the district’s cash reserves have been depleted and need to be increased over the next several years, school officials have said.
Reader Comments
Posted: Saturday, January 30, 2010
Article comment by:
daryl velder
are there property taxes in nebraska for those people over 80 yrs of age on a fixed income or other ?
