NORFOLK, Neb. -- The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resource District has approved its budget for 2023.

On Thursday the LENRD held a budget hearing for the 2023 fiscal year, where it voted to approve a final budget.

For the 2023 fiscal year, the LENRD will be increasing its property tax request to $4,522,473 a 3.2% increase from last year. The levy, however, will be decreasing from 2.3236 cents per $100 valuation to 2.2968 cents per $100 valuation, a 1.15% decrease from last year.

According to the board, the levy could be lowered due to two main things: assessed property value increasing by 4.41% and grant funds. However, due to this increase in property value, most taxpayers will still be paying more than last year. 

As for operating expenditures, the LENRD is requesting $13,844,967, a 20.17% increase from last year's request of $11,520,234. 

Some of the highlighted major expenditures for 2023 included levee and flood protection projects, water resources, project construction including flood repairs, professional services, and wildlife habitat improvement programs.