Douglas County delays final vote on $648 million budget to allow more public review

Douglas County commissioners agreed July 28 to delay final action on the proposed fiscal year 2026–27 budget after a multi-hour public hearing and discussion about transparency and process. County CFO Lori Persch presented the spending plan that holds the tax levy steady at 29.059¢ per $100 of assessed valuation and sets a total budget of $648,092,830 — $618.9 million excluding $29.1 million in remaining ARPA funds.

Persch told the board: "The proposed tax levy, we are holding constant this year at 29.059¢ per $100 evaluation." She outlined major drivers including a projected 5.79% increase in assessed values, a larger roads fund (+$6.4M) and $6 million in inheritance tax transfers for capital improvements and ARPA supplements. Several members of the public and county advocates argued the budget packet was released too close to the hearing for meaningful public review.

Doug Kagan of Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom said the timing undermined transparency: "The proposed budget was not available to the public until 4 days before the public hearing, and it was not available online." Multiple commissioners, including Borgeson and Cavanaugh, urged better opportunities for public input; Commissioner Borgeson moved to continue the matter to next Tuesday to allow additional review. The motion passed 6–0 with Commissioner Rogers absent. County legal said the board could either keep the public hearing open or close it today and take action next week; the board opted to set action for the following meeting.

The continuation gives staff time to prepare any technical amendments and allows members of the public and commissioners to submit questions and proposals before final adoption. The board also flagged plans to hold a more comprehensive, public budget retreat in coming cycles to review department requests and over-target items in greater depth.