Sarpy County highlights 4.6% operating increase, says levy held flat and LB644 forced $2.8M in cuts

Gary Mixon, Sarpy County commissioner for District 4, presented the county's proposed property tax request and budget at the joint hearing on Sept. 23.

Mixon said the county's property tax request for the year is $89,785,119 and that the county receives roughly "13 cents of each of those tax dollars that you pay to the county treasurer." He said the county kept the levy steady for several years while assessed value has increased about 6.4% and that, excluding a recently authorized $197 million road bond, the county's operating budget would increase by about 4.6%.

Mixon told attendees that LB644 required the county to cut about $2.8 million to avoid the hearing and framed the cut as having tangible service impacts, saying the reduction "would be equivalent to losing 22 deputy sheriff deputy" or a large portion of the 911 budget. He added that personnel is the largest portion of the general budget (about 80%) and that without revenue the county faces hard choices about cutting services.

Mixon encouraged residents to contact county officials with questions and said the county aims to grow its tax base to stabilize property taxes over time. The county presentation was followed by an extended public comment period in which many residents expressed frustration about rising assessments and affordability.