Nemaha BOE approves several nonprofit exemptions, denies Peru State College Foundation request

The Nemaha County Board of Equalization approved a string of tax-exemption requests for nonprofit organizations in 2011 and denied one high-profile application after a public hearing. County Clerk Joyce Oakley opened the January 26 public hearing for Catholic Social Services; Commissioner Bob Hutton moved to approve the exemption for Lots 7 and 8, Block 1 of Sheridan Addition to the City of Auburn and the motion passed unanimously.

County Treasurer Pat Holtzman presented multiple motor-vehicle exemption applications through the year that the board approved, including filings for Nemaha County Good Samaritan (five vehicles approved Jan. 12), Hearts United for Animals (2011 Chevrolet van approved May 11), Auburn Christian Church (2005 Ford bus approved Aug. 10), and Peru State College (2009 Chevrolet sedan approved July 25). At the August 24 hearing the board considered an Application for Tax Exemption by Peru State College Foundation for parcel 640030718; no representative appeared to provide additional justification and the board denied the request for “inadequate justification.”

The board’s decisions were recorded as motions and roll calls in the official minutes. As the record notes, for Catholic Social Services “Motion by Hutton, seconded by Bohling to approve the Application for Tax Exemption” (SEG 008). The Peru State College Foundation denial was entered by unanimous roll call after the public hearing closed (SEG 078). The approvals and the single denial leave local taxpayers and nonprofit operators with a clear record of which charitable parcels and vehicles received relief in 2011 and which did not.