I was in the Cheyenne County Assessor's Office last week and was told that I should expect the 2017 tax valuation of my Sidney home to NOT change, up or down, when new valuations go out next month. Instead, my valuation will remain the same as it has been for the last 2 years. The Assessor's Office said this was due to the lack of comparable sales in Sidney since the market is flooded with homes that aren't selling. Makes sense - when homes aren't selling they have no "comp" sales to justify a change in valuation, either up or down, so they leave the valuations just as they always have been. The cruel irony of it all - continued sky high taxes on a home that won't sell for even 30 - 40% below its currently assessed value.
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I think we have a chance to reduce the valuation . however the main problem is the spending and the county need to cut back on the budget and we need to put new projects on holds. NOW to the horrible city government with the city council and city manager. This total nonsense has got to shop. I believe a 35 to 40 cut in city spending is a must. No new projects without taxpayer approval. This nonsense at the city has to need to stop.
Nebraska is in the top fifteen states for high property taxes.
Yes because I'm sure people at the Cheyenne County Assessor’s office want their taxes to increase? NO. They, like everyone else, would love taxes to go DOWN, they pay them also, however THEY HAVE ZERO CONTROL OVER IT! The Assessor's office ASSESS’ for VALUE, that's it. They truly have ZERO to do with the amount you pay in taxes. Go to your budget meetings!! Talk to your legislatures! However don't call and berate the kind and incredibly patient women who spend their days doing the very best they can at an incredibly thankless job. I know from personal experience if you have a legit concern, or something is wrong, they bend over backwards to fix it and will go out of their way as much as they can to accommodate your schedule, they want everything correct, it does zero good for them to have incorrect records.
Further, how about the bill the legislature is proposing that will move the burden of 133 million dollars in taxes to the commercial and residential land owners and off the farmers? The new bill would move farm ground to income approach, which sounds fine, until you think about it. During the down years, like now, the taxes on that land will be much lower, however do you think the state of Nebraska is just going to eat 133+ million dollars in taxes? Nope, so who is left to pay it? Everyone else. Further income approach on farm land also means that once the prices get back on track, whenever that happens, that the taxes on the land will sky rocket. Also realize you pay the taxes in the rear, so you could end up paying sky high taxes for a great year in a down year, then what?
The problem simply put isn’t the value, aka your assessment, the issue is the system that Nebraska uses to tax. Why is there not a low tax on food? Perhaps tax goods ordered online? Locally, how about you don’t get a new pool and force residents of Sidney to pay for it when it’s poorly designed and you can’t even float in a lazy river? I mean what’s that about? A little off topic, but the bottom line is, the state mandates how everything is assessed, further the assessment isn’t what you’re mad about it’s the taxes, so take that up with people who at least have a shred of input into taxation.
The foreclosure train has already hit Sidney, just go to the gis website and see how many single family homes are owned by banks. Last time I looked the count was up to 9. The banks will let these sit on the books for a while before drastically reducing prices but if a lot of other homes go into foreclosure or they sit for a couple of years they eventually will drop values.
Just an FYI - It's not your Assessments that are your problem, your problems are the taxing entities school, city & fire. you don't want higher taxes then don't vote for them, Assessor's have no control over what you pay for taxes all they do is value your home and land & yes if the market crashes and nothing is being sold then you may see a small reduction in values but a home with "X" amount of square ft & "X" amount of acreage is going to be worth "X" amount. Your taxing entities are going to constantly "scare" you into believing that if you don't vote for this increase then we can't afford the newest and greatest equipment that will save your life or your child won't get a quality education - that's where your problems are going to come from.
I must say I agree with the tax situation, but it is not really a city or county issue, it is a state of ne issue. Every county has to go by the rules set up by the state, that are put in place by the legislature. I am about as anti establishment/ govt/ tax as they come, but I understand that at the county level, unless they have enough good sales that happen, their hands are tied. My suggestion, appeal to the legislature and have them change the rules to value homes. ( oh and if you think owning a homes bad, try owning 900 acres of farmland in Cheyenne county)
so ho soon before the foreclose train comes to town?
I feel for the citizens of Sidney having to put with the horrible local government in Sidney.
It is funny the old drunk we have for a football coach at the university can basically get off over and over and over for drunk driving. meanwhile our taxpayers in Sidney who try to make a honest living and work hard and we screw over and over and over the city and the county
What would everyone suggest over the mistreatment over and over and over by the local government to put a point across the citizens are tired of it. maybe a protest , marches, petitions, boycotts what would everyone suggest.
sad so vert sad
If this was reversed and no houses were being sold because there was a tremendous house shortage and no homes were being sold. You can bet the old country would be figuring a way to increase evaluation . Enough is enough how about a protest or a petition over this nonsense. I am one who is tried of being taken of advantage and over by the country and the city. Another day for the town of Sidney.
Ouch!!!! Insult to injury in that situation!!!!