FPS

Dodge County LB644 Postcard Printing Error

Proposed Property Tax

Fremont, Neb. – (Sep. 19, 2022) Dodge County residents of the Fremont Public School District began receiving their Notice Of Tax Increase postcards today.  The Tax Request for 2021 is not correct.  The corresponding increase reflected on the postcard is also not correct.  The postcard reflects property taxes for the general fund and special building fund leaving out the bond funds.  The 2022 estimated taxes on the postcard correctly utilized all funds –  inflating the estimated increase column.

LB644 (2022) requires all taxing subdivisions which are proposing to exceed 2% plus allowable growth (based on real property valuation growth certified by the county) to participate in a joint public hearing with other taxing entities in the county.  Public notice is to precede the hearing with a postcard outlining the proposed property tax increase.  Postcards require specific information per LB644.

“Property tax requests and calculation of the corresponding tax levy rates are very technical in nature,” stated Mark Shepard superintendent of schools.  “We literally spend hours calculating and recalculating our property tax request, the assessed valuations related to each request and ultimately the tax levy rate.  Our Board of Education requests exactly what is necessary to fund our operations and meet our outstanding Bond obligations.  Mistakes such as this, although correctible, add to the public distrust of taxing entities and should not happen.”

The time and location of the public hearing were also published in error – stating that the hearing would take place on September 26 at the Burt County Courthouse.  The Dodge County public hearing will take place on September 27 at 6:00 pm at the ESU2 offices located at 2320 N Colorado Avenue in Fremont.

Debbie Churchill, Dodge County Assessor, is working with Vanguard and NACO (Nebraska Association of County Officials) to re-print and mail corrected postcards.

“The school district’s overall budget is decreasing, due in part to the utilization of Federal Funds provided as part of the stimulus package.  The district’s operating fund – the General fund is increasing 1.64%.  The tax levy the Board of Education will consider at their special meeting on September 28 will maintain a levy very close to the district’s 2021 levy of $1.223,” stated Dr. Brad Dahl, FPS associate superintendent. “This is the message that was shared publicly on September 12 during a budget / levy update as part of the Board of Education meeting.” To view the presentation materials online go to: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1D8QPq8cW8O_dlgtEs4z5t0esfQlptUUX/view?usp=sharing 

The attached table represents how information should have been displayed on postcards received today.  Corrected postcards should arrive in mailboxes soon.

*Property valuations are adjusted periodically by the County Assessor.  This illustration assumes a 3% increase in assessed value. The actual increase illustrated on the postcard will be reflective of any adjustment to your assessed valuation and the combined impact of the proposed tax levy.

FPS was notified late last week that postcards in Douglas County were sent out to the wrong addresses in some cases.  “FPS has prided itself on being open with the public and presenting information in an understandable way.  The intention of LB644 was to add a layer of transparency to the budget / levy setting process – unfortunately it has added to the confusion,”  Shepard concluded.

###

The mission statement of the Fremont Public Schools is to produce creative, adaptable, productive citizens committed to lifelong learning.

Saunders County LB644 Postcard Printing Error

Proposed Property Tax

Fremont, Neb. – (Sep. 20, 2022) Saunders County residents of the Fremont Public School District began receiving their Notice Of Tax Increase postcards over the last several days.  The Tax Request for 2021 is not correct.  The corresponding increase reflected on the postcard is also not correct.  The postcard reflects property taxes for the general fund and special building fund leaving out the bond funds.  The 2022 estimated taxes on the postcard correctly utilized all funds –  inflating the estimated increase column.

LB644 (2022) requires all taxing subdivisions which are proposing to exceed 2% plus allowable growth (based on real property valuation growth certified by the county) to participate in a joint public hearing with other taxing entities in the county.  Public notice is to precede the hearing with a postcard outlining the proposed property tax increase.  Postcards require specific information per LB644.

FPS has been notified that postcards in Douglas County and Dodge County are also incorrect. 

 “FPS has prided itself on being open with the public and presenting information in an understandable way.  The intention of LB644 was to add a layer of transparency to the budget / levy setting process – unfortunately it has added to the confusion,”  Shepard concluded.  “We will continue to work with our county officials to see what options there are for getting corrected postcards out to the public.”

For more information please visit fremonttigers.org. 

###

The mission statement of the Fremont Public Schools is to produce creative, adaptable, productive citizens committed to lifelong learning.