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Residents urge restraint, question raises and ask board to use reserves rather than raise taxes
Summary
Three public speakers — Steve Jessen, Jan Haberman and Peggy Hoffman — praised budget work but urged the board to protect taxpayers by using reserves, questioned large certified-pay increases and criticized administrative staffing levels and levy choices.
During public comment, three residents offered numbers and critiques aimed at the board's budget decisions. Resident Steve Jessen cited audit figures showing non-property revenue increases and calculated that a $39,000,001.68 request would require about $1.66M from reserves to balance the budget.
"This is from the 2024, 2025 audit...21,330,549...they increased that amount to 22,966,530," Jessen said while summarizing audit figures that he said support fiscal prudence. Jan Haberman of Norfolk Care thanked the board for holding the line but urged the district to consider using reserves because rising property valuations already increase many homeowners' bills.
Peggy Hoffman was the most pointed, criticizing an 11.053% jump in the starting certified salary from $39,849 to $44,045 and arguing the district should cut top administrative positions before asking taxpayers for more. Hoffman also cited state law (LB103) limiting levy increases and urged the board to "dip into your reserve instead of ours."
The board did not respond with votes on the public comment items but moved on to the business calendar, giving staff direction to finalize levy materials ahead of August valuations.
