Scotts Bluff County proposes roughly $15 million property-tax request; mill levy held essentially flat

Scotts Bluff County officials opened a public hearing Sept. 15 on the proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget that would raise the county's property-tax request to about $15,000,002.93 while leaving the county's levy roughly the same as last year (around 0.367).

County staffer Lisa (presenting materials published with the notice) told the board that the county-wide assessed valuation rose substantially and that a roughly $1 million increase in the tax request reflects changes in funding sources and prior one-time revenue. "Every line item up there is a different fund within the county, and not all of them are affected by property tax," she said while summarizing the multi-fund budget and explaining reserve and fund-accounting practices.

Why it matters: the larger dollar request follows an increase in the county's total valuation to about $4,162,612,310 and the end of some one-time funding sources previously used for capital projects. Lisa said the county kept the mill levy effectively flat; because valuations rose, the county's total tax dollars sought increased.

Key details: Lisa showed the published notice and comparative worksheets. She noted certain state-specific funds (public-service-commission-related funds) and provided figures for the current and proposed budgeted property-tax amounts. She told commissioners the county budgeted roughly $35.2 million in total revenues for 2026, with about 43.5% attributable to property tax.

Public comment and related agenda items: The public-hearing period produced one in-person speaker, Owen Palm, who identified himself and said he lives on 40 Second Street. "I'm here to speak in favor of the, mill and fill on on 40 Second Street. I think if we leave that street another year, there's not gonna be anything there to Mill. It's in very serious condition," Palm said at the podium.

County staff also reviewed the joint public hearing process required for property-tax hearings that involve other political subdivisions. The county will hold the joint public hearing Sept. 22 at 6:05 p.m. at the Gering Civic Center; participants and presentation components were reviewed and staff indicated a postcard notice had been mailed to affected taxpayers.

Board action: The board accepted the informational presentation and designated a commissioner to present county statistics at the Sept. 22 joint public hearing. The motion to accept the information and appoint a representative to give the county presentation identified Commissioner Russ Ryzick as the county's presenter; one commissioner said he would abstain from the vote and the recorded tally was three yes votes, the motion carried.

Next steps and context: County staff said they will finalize slides and presentation materials for the joint hearing and will meet again Sept. 25 to complete the budget process (formal adoption/setting the tax request). The budget packet and supporting inventories are available on the county website.

Ending: The board closed the public hearing after the presentation and public comment and moved on to the next agenda item.