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Fire districts present preliminary levies; commissioners press Eastern Sarpy for details
Summary
Representatives for several fire districts presented preliminary budgets and levy requests to the Sarpy County Board; commissioners asked for more detail from Eastern Sarpy about a high levy request and noted final budget approvals are scheduled for Aug. 26.
Several fire districts and the Sarpy County Ag Society presented preliminary levy and budget information to the Sarpy County Board, prompting commissioners to ask for additional details on bond and capital plans before final approvals later in August.
Amber Hotelling, chief deputy county clerk and register of deeds, introduced the preliminary levies and asked district representatives to be present to answer questions. Kevin Edwards represented Millard, reporting a 6.39% increase in taxable valuation over the 2024 certified value and a requested levy increase of 1.45%; he said the change would raise the cost by about $1.50 on a $100,000 home.
Edwards also presented Papillion Fire District figures: a 10.71% valuation increase, a total budget increase of 10.21%, and contractual increases tied to interlocal agreements (MFO) with Papillion and La Vista. Papillion’s capital replacement plan increased to $305,076 for apparatus replacement and the district plans a higher annual set-aside (roughly $815,800) to avoid bonding for apparatus.
Gretna (Eastern Sarpy) and other districts were on the agenda; commissioners flagged Eastern Sarpy’s request for the full 15¢ allocation the county can allocate under current procedures and asked county staff to request additional detail at the Aug. 26 final-approval meeting. Commissioner discussion stressed equity across districts and asked staff to ask Eastern Sarpy to explain the high levy and what bond or capital projects the money would finance.
Rod Beattie, Gretna Fire Chief, said his district tried to maintain a similar levy and that in the prior year the district moved toward paid staffing and merged EMS and ambulance funding into a single fund. Beattie said the department included money in the budget for potential new hires tied to expected local development.
County staff reminded commissioners that final action on these budgets will be taken at the Aug. 26 meeting and said staff would ask districts for clarifying information—particularly on Eastern Sarpy’s bond requests—before the board votes.
