Board of Equalization accepts TERC findings, approves most corrected exemptions and readies valuation notices

The Dodge County Board of Supervisors, sitting as the Board of Equalization on May 29, accepted a Nebraska Tax Equalization and Review Commission (TERC) Findings and Order that Dodge County’s 2024 property valuation levels meet statutory requirements and took action on corrected permissive exemption applications.

County Assessor Churchill explained the State requested additional information on several exemption applications and that corrections were made to applications (including adding legal descriptions and correcting tax years). The Board accepted the Assessor’s recommendation to correct twelve applications, granted a partial exemption for a Midland University parcel containing a vacant house, denied Rebuilding Together, Platte Valley East Inc.’s exemption because construction has not started, and approved a Salvation Army parcel after determining the lot is used for children’s activities.

Assessor Churchill also told the Board that roughly 20,600 property valuation notices would go out May 31 and that about 1,700 valuations decreased while the remainder rose by amounts ranging from $1 to over $1 million. She described three agricultural market areas: Market area 1 (south Dodge County) where irrigated land rose about 16%; Market area 2 (north) where irrigated land rose about 9% and dry land about 10%; and Market area 3 (east of Fremont) where irrigated land rose about 7%. Supervisor Strand questioned whether the Assessor was "chasing sales"; Churchill replied that area adjustments require multiple sales and are driven by market value.

The Board adjourned the Board of Equalization and will reconvene on June 12.