[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6586128,"mediaKeyId","5551160-e1771a9b1d315e08946e7c2a76abd11e","parentId",5551160,"title","Scotts Bluff County commissioners approve homestead exemption, State Patrol MOU, Heartland Expressway resolutions and boiler contract","audioSeconds",1800,"startMs",528000,"endMs",2328000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5551160-e1771a9b1d315e08946e7c2a76abd11e&start=528&end=2328","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5551160-e1771a9b1d315e08946e7c2a76abd11e/thumbnail_528000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6586128/Scotts-Bluff-County/Nebraska/Scotts-Bluff-County-commissioners-approve-homestead-exemption-State-Patrol-MOU-Heartland-Expressway-resolutions-and-boiler-contract","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6586128-f4fa5ce1af986753b7496b95146d9511/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164148&Signature=e0gPumR9~8ZC1bkpz5KExB5LzXzTZgNXeY8AHb0XzSRhPoHQjA8UK7Qh4n11NWrHkziXLbHLGrJtm1SeHyfeafnXY20lVH8oVxH6OBcK4RRQpdytnC5W~H2cKvbwAipkuG4ZwRl-yZCVWDN7LeyBbmrCqjNxQ4STZMFUnRPZZj0WFx2OBevmCvgGtpnnx6kzX1oOCbW0e2fsdev7KOLPLtsdwleac1uoEbfIebJdEV~aFjXlfmkdHYuVCgaYuDXOg0NMsLtY66Ap3NiO-MjLsJuPZA~-sxgjklnGJvKO-Btm9R30jx0BHvhvp9TgYvdB259NTUSbdd4Ihdx0RkPa1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Scotts Bluff County, NE","date","2025-08-07T06:10:58.59Z","article","Scotts Bluff County commissioners approved several routine and policy items at a public meeting, including a homestead exemption application, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Nebraska State Patrol for network access at the county jail, three resolutions supporting the Heartland Expressway/Ports-to-Plains corridor, and a contract award for a courthouse boiler replacement.

The board voted unanimously to approve a homestead exemption application for a property identified in the packet at a total value of $31,610; County Assessor Robert presented the late filing and said the application will be forwarded to the state for final determination in October. The board also approved an MOU that the sheriff described as covering network access for electronic fingerprinting at the jail; the sheriff told commissioners the monthly cost will be charged to the jail budget and indicated the amount is small (stated in the meeting as $1.67 per month). Commissioners approved the MOU by voice vote.

Also on the consent track, the board approved three resolutions endorsing continued support for the Heartland Expressway and the larger Ports-to-Plains corridor, to be delivered to regional congressional delegations. The board voted to sign all three resolutions as a package. The board then accepted the lowest responsible bid for replacement of the courthouse boiler: Rasmuson (Rasmuson Mechanical Services) of Sturgis, S.D., at $182,049, a price the county said was well below an earlier budget estimate of about $350,000.

In an executive-session follow-up, the board voted to adopt a wage-comparison study to be used in ongoing sheriff’s union contract negotiations; staff said the study compared Scotts Bluff County pay bands with a set of comparable counties and presented mean/median figures for deputies and supervisors. The board also set a date and time (Aug. 26 at 4:30 p.m.) for a preliminary levy allocation meeting, as staff said state deadlines require action by early September.

Votes at a glance:
- Homestead exemption (Parcel 010136924): motion to approve application and forward to the state for review; outcome: approved, 4–0. (Assessor Robert recommended approval; state review due in October.)
- MOU with Nebraska State Patrol (network access/support for jail fingerprint switch): motion to approve MOU; outcome: approved, 4–0. (Sheriff explained the county will assume a small monthly cost for the service.)
- Heartland Expressway / Ports-to-Plains resolutions (three related resolutions endorsing continued support and feasibility study): motion to sign all three resolutions; outcome: approved, 4–0. (Board to return signed resolutions to regional lead.)
- Boiler replacement contract (Scotts Bluff County Courthouse): motion to award contract to Rasmuson Mechanical Services, Sturgis, S.D., for $182,049; outcome: approved, 4–0.
- Wage-comparison study (sheriff’s office bargaining unit; to be used in negotiations): motion to adopt wage-comparison study for negotiation use; outcome: approved, 4–0. (Action taken after executive session.)
- Preliminary levy allocation meeting date: motion to set meeting for Aug. 26 at 4:30 p.m.; outcome: approved, 4–0.

Why this matters: The MOU affects daily operations at the jail (electronic fingerprint processing and related costs). The payroll/union work and wage-comparison study set negotiation parameters for sheriff’s personnel. The boiler contract commits county capital funds and scheduling; the Heartland resolutions are outreach/support for a multistate transportation corridor that county leaders say could affect regional freight and funding priorities.

Commissioners said these items will be reflected in upcoming budget and implementation work, and that staff will return with documentation, signatures and follow-up reports as needed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Scotts Bluff County Commissioners Meeting, Monday, August 4th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Scotts Bluff County commissioners approved several routine and policy items at a public meeting, including a homestead exemption, an MOU with the Nebraska State Patrol for network access at the jail, three Heartland Expressway resolutions and a courthouse boiler contract.","taxTitle","Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska","taxId",69685,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6586120,"Scotts Bluff County staff warn of tighter budget next year; preliminary levy meeting set for Aug. 26",668,3812000,4480000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5551160-e1771a9b1d315e08946e7c2a76abd11e&start=3812&end=4480","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5551160-e1771a9b1d315e08946e7c2a76abd11e/thumbnail_3812000.jpg","/articles/6586120/Scotts-Bluff-County/Nebraska/Scotts-Bluff-County-staff-warn-of-tighter-budget-next-year-preliminary-levy-meeting-set-for-Aug-26","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6586120-385272bd428b45b26d4cc6397f42b67a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164148&Signature=ln5BnKAYVQ8Iae3Fd-2ugEU-lGgUQQHcwmk8DXsAJ1MCX4nroL0nUt9Jfiy7FHBNMoTuS5urC3b6FatagY85Qmw6MlVHakj9eyyL1RiOvHeNDfc98WgvEVOxpRRP-DM6lhv6EFv6NA2Z8QDl1rmKI9UwOWOcEp~kG9W43UQiAqveyB7NUvq552Ae7VIue3wZUi~bjcteGAjcnsAhKBBo0ggh8O0pbTPHvu-Nd34BU~-E4DFrGpGnE9K2WRE9qYG6mcFccblusY9lRUlan3H7S1e5qB93Fo7m99yIwh1Ohaw-mcu-7xmxPmE-5NZjRqT2Ri5vycwbE4bmgyap4Ukh0g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County staff told commissioners the county’s available fund balance has fallen as ARPA funds and capital-improvement reserves were used, and they urged caution for next year’s budget. Management accountant Lisa presented fund-balance figures, explained that ARPA project money is largely spent and said the county’s general-fund reserves have declined from about $2.8 million to roughly $2.4 million (figures provided in meeting materials).

Lisa said last year’s total property-tax ask was about $14.17 million; her preliminary calculations using current growth and an inflation index produced a notional ceiling near $14.95 million for the county’s tax ask under current state formulas. She told the board that staff’s current combined budget inputs — before applying constrained levy authority — produced an initial total near $19 million, which she said cannot be sustained given statutory levy limits. Lisa recommended commissioners plan conservatively: maintain payroll obligations, limit new projects unless alternate funding is identified and use available capital-improvement funds sparingly.

Commissioners set meeting dates for budget hearings: the county advertised sessions on Aug. 7–8 and Aug. 11–13 (afternoons/evenings as published) for department presentations, and they set a preliminary levy-allocation meeting for Aug. 26 at 4:30 p.m. County staff said the Assessor will provide updated valuations around Aug. 20 so staff can prepare a preliminary levy resolution.

Commissioners and staff discussed practical steps: ask department heads for conservative budget proposals, identify nonrecurring revenue sources that should not be counted toward ongoing spending, and consider cautious use of statutory exceptions for one-time items (staff cautioned that exceptions can create higher levy authority one year and force reductions the next). The board gave staff direction to prepare preliminary numbers for the Aug. 26 meeting and to invite department leaders as needed for the advertised budget sessions.","County staff reported fund balances, the recent use of ARPA funds and constraints on how much property-tax authority the county can request; staff recommended limited new projects and scheduled budget hearings and a preliminary levy allocation meeting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6586123,"Scotts Bluff County commissioners move payroll functions to management accountant/HR office",1358,2406000,3764000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5551160-e1771a9b1d315e08946e7c2a76abd11e&start=2406&end=3764","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5551160-e1771a9b1d315e08946e7c2a76abd11e/thumbnail_2406000.jpg","/articles/6586123/Scotts-Bluff-County/Nebraska/Scotts-Bluff-County-commissioners-move-payroll-functions-to-management-accountantHR-office","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6586123-4309e53bd8507f3a06805cd2e98b1874/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164148&Signature=l5eRtCOFoq-lLlPE6rUJU~9JaH5eHAYksXF2M4GXK2PiKz11IDMD7Fglzs-zG04d4r9uzOVz7GgclM69SR2R9YMtrKnozgF9LO~aIE8QhVq-0NKf43iKNR5u2vBHYlGtQVxAcE7i7IK6Imzjoefu9GnbDeXxUjFFHw~98ha7Z0WvS8T19VuEf6214a7g9kgilqQolkpjGE3dR31pMUooOySBczU3SvKOP-r-2edAs2YgBeyj9g08vRPi6T9d41oX1HR6qYNxQWnfQEbMZ0BIxTB6MKxsfsxXkL0QQEGzcB7Z4ojKHNCA6jofTgAO0wdI5pUWPhmCdpxaW1QAXLZF4g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Scotts Bluff County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to transfer the county payroll function from the county clerk’s office to the management accountant / human resources department.

Commissioner discussion and staff presentations centered on audit recommendations, separation-of-duties concerns and the practical steps needed to make the change. Russ (who introduced the item) said the move was intended to provide a second set of eyes on cash-handling and to address repeated audit comments; he described the transfer as an efficiency and internal control improvement. Management accountant Lisa and county clerk Kelly discussed operational details and statutory duties that will remain with the county clerk, including countersigning warrants and delivering warrants payable to employees after required entries are made.

During discussion resident Mitch Wagers and others urged clear lines between HR and accounting duties; Mitch said his experience in the private sector recommended separation where possible. Lisa and other staff answered detailed questions about reconciling multiple small accounts (sheriff’s accounts, veterans office, commissary) and said some additional procedural work — and possibly minor staffing adjustments — may be needed during the implementation.

The board then adopted a formal resolution transferring the payroll clerk position to the management accountant/human resources department and directing staff to work together on timing and logistics. The motion carried 4–0.

Implementation notes: the board instructed facilities/IT staff to assist with the physical move of offices and with network/IT needs; staff said payroll software and time-clock integration (Time Clock Plus) will be part of the transition. The county clerk will continue to perform statutorily required functions such as countersigning warrants and maintaining warrant distribution records.

The board did not set a specific transfer date in the resolution but asked staff to complete the move as quickly as practical and to report back to the commission with the transition timeline.","The board approved a resolution transferring payroll functions from the county clerk's office to the management accountant/human resources department; commissioners and staff discussed audit concerns, separation of duties and implementation steps.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Scotts Bluff County commissioners approve homestead exemption, State Patrol MOU, Heartland Expressway resolutions and boiler contract

Scotts Bluff County staff warn of tighter budget next year; preliminary levy meeting set for Aug. 26

Scotts Bluff County commissioners move payroll functions to management accountant/HR office