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Gage County Board of Equalization approves referee valuation cuts for multiple parcels
Summary
At its July 23 meeting the Gage County Board of Equalization approved referee recommendations and lowered valuations for several parcels after property valuation protests; two contested votes recorded a 4-1 split with Vice Chairman Emily M. Haxby voting no.
The Gage County Board of Equalization met on July 23, 2026, and approved referee recommendations to reduce assessed values for a number of parcels across Gage County.
The board first approved a procedural motion to consider the County Assessor’s list of valuation changes. Dawn Hill, the county clerk whose office maintains the record, read the motion into the minutes: "Motion by Clabaugh, seconded by Jurgens to approve the list of valuations sent out by the County Assessor on board notices concerning changes to taxpayer’s property, such as recounted acres, omitted property, and clerical errors." The motion carried 4-0, establishing the agenda for the referees’ recommendations to be considered.
Individual motions followed on contested parcels. Rex Adams moved, and Terry Jurgens seconded, approval of a referee readjustment for parcel #012147000 (Virginia Haddix), lowering that parcel’s valuation to $61,650; the motion carried 4-0. After Gary Lytle joined the meeting at 8:54 a.m., the board approved a $415,000 valuation for parcel #014753000 (Ron Maschmeier) on a 5-0 vote after a motion by Lytle and second by Jurgens.
Two parcels drew recorded dissent from Vice Chairman Emily M. Haxby. A motion to lower parcel #014308000 (Craig & Michael Zarybnicky) to $150,000 passed 4-1, with Haxby voting nay after debate and a successful call for the question. Likewise, a motion to lower parcel #011609501 (Blake Meints) to $225,000 passed 4-1 with Haxby opposed. The board later approved the referee recommendation to lower parcel #013422500 (Kirk Ziegler) to $294,600 by motion of Adams and second of Clabaugh, 4-0.
The clerk and the vice chairman read extensive lists into the record showing dozens of specific parcel ID numbers, owners, 2026 valuations and the "change to" figures the referees recommended. A motion to approve the remaining listed valuation changes (excluding parcels handled by separate motions) carried 4-0. The board also approved a separate list of parcels for which referees recommended no change. Clerical corrections to previously read values were recorded and approved before the board adjourned to reconvene July 24, 2026.
