Kearney R‑I board sets total property tax levy after reassessment year presentation

The Kearney R‑I School District Board of Education on a roll-call vote adopted a tax levy after a staff presentation showing a substantial reassessment-driven increase in assessed valuation.

A staff presenter explained that the district's combined assessed valuation for Clay and Clinton counties is "just under 620,000,000," an 11.02% increase from the prior year because 2025 is a reassessment year. The presenter said the board's proposal would divide the levy between operations and debt service and delivered a sample calculation showing the rate falling from 4.6226 last year to 4.4179 this year.

The presentation outlined how assessed value is calculated and why residents may see different results on their tax bills. "People get assessed by 4 different categories and 4 different percentages," the presenter said, citing residential at 19%, commercial at 32%, agricultural at 12% and personal property at 33.33%. Using a $300,000 residential example, the presenter showed a household could see either a tax decrease or increase depending on how much the property's market value changed: with no change in market value the sample taxpayer would pay less under the lower rate; if market value rose by the full 11.02% shown in the reassessment, the example homeowner's taxes would rise by about $160 annually.

The presenter also provided estimated revenue changes tied to reassessment and new construction: "additional revenue due to reassessment is estimated $640,000; new construction pulls in another ... for a total additional operating revenue just over $840,000," and noted additional debt service revenue of just under $94,000. The presenter said the district must account for the effect of Senate Bill 190, described in the presentation as a senior tax program, which the presenter estimated reduces revenue by about $221,000 on the Clay County side and about $10,000 on the Clinton side; after that adjustment the presenter said the district's new operating revenue is closer to $610,000.

During the public portion of the hearing a board member asked for clarification about why some taxpayers may see higher bills despite a lower rate. The presenter answered: "It's because their home's worth more."

After the presentation the board called for the motion recorded in the meeting transcript: "Move to set the tax levy operations at $3 and 22 and 7700¢ and the debt service at $1.19 and 200¢ for a total levy of $4 and 41 and 7900¢." The motion was seconded and approved by roll call. The roll-call lines recorded in the transcript show the following votes in favor: Jason Plummer (aye), Jake Planchet (yes), Christina Linton (yes), Chris Wagner (yes), Vasquez (yes) and Darlene Bailey (yes). The motion carried.

The presenter closed by inviting questions and public comments; no public commenters were present at the scheduled public comment period.

The board's action sets the levy at the levels described in the motion and implements the revenue changes discussed during the reassessment-year presentation. The district finance staff noted the reassessment creates a window to review future levy needs against operating requirements.

Details recorded in the meeting transcript indicate the district finance staff used the reassessment and the state senior tax credit estimate when calculating net new revenue for budgeting purposes.