Platte Institute holds seminar ahead of public tax hearing

NORFOLK, Neb. -- With a new property tax transparency law in Nebraska, one group held a seminar ahead of the hearing that will be held later this month.

On Tuesday, the Platte Institute was in the Lifelong Learning Center at the Northeast Community College in Norfolk. The Platte Institute said the point of Tuesday's seminar was to educate taxpayers about the upcoming public hearings on property tax.

The hearings are part of a new law in the state called the Property Tax Request Act. The Platte Institute refers to this as "Truth in Taxation." The act is a transparency law in Nebraska that proponents say allows taxpayers to see why their taxes have been increased and what the taxes are being used for.

"We're really focusing on three key areas," Elizabeth Hallgren, the Platte Institute's community engagement director, said. "First we're gonna lay down common language, tax jargon can be confusing...we're just kind of leveling the playing field so everybody has a common knowledge then we're going into the process (of the hearings). The final piece we're going to cover is how they can effectively advocate in their communities."

Hallgren was the main speaker during the presentation. She said the key issue Truth in Taxation is trying to address is the tax requests being made and not the levy. Hallgren said with property value increasing and levies either not changing, or not lowering enough, taxing entities are still getting more tax dollars than in previous years. 

Hallgren also encouraged board members to advocate their wants during the meeting, urging the audience to write a letter to the editor, inform others, and participate in the hearing.

"Draft your testimony ahead of time," Hallgren said. "Clearly state at the beginning of your testimony whether you're there to levy your support or oppose (the tax request). Share your personal story on why, for example, if the increase will cause financial strain. Those are the type of personal stories that impact political officials that they don't ever hear from taxpayers."

Hallgren also recommended testimony be completely factual and not based on interpretation. 

The joint public tax hearing will take place on Sept. 26 at the Lifelong Learning Center at Northeast Community College in Norfolk. The start time for the hearings will be 6:00 p.m. and property owners should be informed via postcard if one of their taxing entities is participating in the hearing.