Hitchcock County Assessor responds to recall peitions

Dear Editor,

I was elected by the voters in Hitchcock County in 2014. I have done everything I can to fulfill the responsibilities of the office in which I was elected. Upon taking office on January 8, 2015, it was clear that delinquent work including appraisals, inspections of properties and agricultural land uses were incorrect and tons of work was left for me to undertake. The residential appraisals in Culbertson were last inspected in 2006. Nebraska Statutes require a six-year physical inspection on every parcel within the County. The market value of residential properties, especially rural acreages were below acceptable market value ranges. Hitchcock County was behind with property assessments; residential, commercial and agricultural.

New assessed values with current costing and depreciation was a statutory requirement to meet the market values at 92-100%. This was completed for the Villages of Culbertson, Trenton and rural residential properties this year. Taxpayers of homes have protested and the County Board has lowered some values considerably. Instead of following the correct steps to protest, appeal to the Tax Equalization and Review Commission, they have taken the valuation anger out on me personally. I have even gone home to broken windows in my home.

To meet deadlines and appraisal work, I went to the County Board for approval of outside appraisers and the Hitchcock County Board did enter into contract with Tax Valuation, Inc. and Luhrs Real Estate and Appraisals. These were special commercial uses that required a certified general appraiser.

The prior Assessor did not complete over 700 inspections in the rural areas for immediate attention according to the Department of Revenue. I have completed over 1300 inspections and have all of them current. Upon taking office in 2015 Hitchcock County had 29 pending 2014 TERC cases that I had no control over. The County Board entered into settlement agreements with the residential home owners and the County still has pending 2014 TERC cases for agricultural land. There has not been any correspondence on the date of these hearings.

Since I took office, a valuation decline of approximately 50 million in 2016 has occurred in one property type. This is due to the oil prices dramatically falling and is beyond my control. The assessed values of oil production are set by a specialized Appraisal Firm in this field, Pritchard and Abbott. I continually receive negative comments of lower values.

Classifications of agricultural land had to be reviewed after market analysis showed proof of irregularities and improper classifications on file. I sent owners at three different times during 2015 the request for land classification and uses. I have properly identified and classified approximately 11,000 acres of agricultural land enrolled in government programs from agricultural or horticultural production. (See the requirement of NE Dept. of Revenue Tax Directive #09-4)

Hitchcock County was under the supervision of the State Dept. of Revenue for over 10 years, including 9 counties in Nebraska: Keith, Hitchcock, Harlan, Dodge, Dakota, Loup, Garfield, Greeley and Sherman. In 2012, Hitchcock returned the assumption of the office back to the County. In 2014 the office was on the ballot for election. It was apparent that the responsibilities were neglected and an enormous amount of work needed done.

Petition carriers included a man who bought grass land for an extremely high amount of $1,300 an acre and the assessed value in Hitchcock County was $500.00 per acre. Another petition carrier constructed grain bins that cost $60,000 and didn't want his property assessed at fair market value. One petition carrier is a former County Board member and has received reductions in value without cause when neighboring parcels increase. Another petition carrier does not pay any real estate taxes in Hitchcock County.

What the petition carriers did not explain to "voters" was:

What happens if the Assessor is recalled on November 8th and deadlines are not met?

1. The Law requires the Assessor to complete the tax lists (real and personal) and deliver it to the County Treasurer by NOVEMBER 22nd. {Two weeks after the election}

2. The deadline for County Assessors and Treasurers to certify the Homestead Exemption Summary Certificate for tax loss due to homestead exemptions for the current tax year is NOVEMBER 30th. {Three weeks after the election}

3. By DECEMBER 1st the County Assessor must file the Certificate of Taxes Levied Report with the State.

Hitchcock County residents may not receive tax statements in a timely fashion, which may affect school funds, fire Department funds, Village funds, ESU funds etc. if the Assessor is recalled. The County may be in a financial crisis at this point. Please think about this and the "UNKNOWN" facts that the petition carriers did NOT tell you if you signed the petition.

Issues on the upcoming ballot in other Counties, such as the Hillcrest Nursing Home roof; has exact figures and facts when those voters go to the polls. Hitchcock County Voters do not know how much this will cost them or what will happen. They are voting with a blank checkbook signed by the petition carriers. Please do not remove me from office with a "yes" vote. Vote NO and leave the blank checkbook at home.

I have completed a lot of hard work in the last year and a half to the assessment process in Hitchcock County and have excellent employees that work beside me.

These Recall petitions have been carried with meaningless and untruthful statements to encourage people to sign. I have followed the laws in the State of Nebraska and valuations have changed in conjunction with market values. This is my job responsibility. I have done everything to the best of my ability to fulfill the duties of this office. Disgruntled taxpayers should follow the appeal process.

Marlene Bedore,

The elected

Hitchcock

County Assessor