Levy steady, tax request up amid inflation pressure

McCOOK, Neb. - City Manager Nate Schneider, addressing a concerned audience, provided insights into the city's upcoming budget and the reasons behind property tax increases during a special tax hearing Tuesday evening.

In a prepared statement, Schneider acknowledged the displeasure expressed by attendees regarding the timing of the notice sent out. Many "pink postcards" announcing the hearing, required because the city budget is exceeding 2%, didn't arrive until the day of the hearing or later.

"Inflation is surging across the nation," Schneider stated, shedding light on the prevailing economic climate. He went on to discuss the significant rise in expenses incurred by the City of McCook in recent years. "We've spared no effort in absorbing these increased costs without negatively impacting property taxpayers," Schneider emphasized.

The 2023-24 property tax request will be set at $1,897,419.33, which is an increase from last year by 13%. The tax rate that will levy the same amount of property taxes as last year, when multiplied by the new total assessed value of the property, would be .302347 per $100 of the assessed value.

Schneider highlighted the alarming Consumer Price Index trends, indicating that it had surged over 5% from March 2022 to March 2023. This increase compounded on top of the approximately 9% rise experienced during the preceding year for the same period. "McCook is not immune to the effects of inflation," Schneider stressed.

Cliff Clapp, a concerned citizen, chimed in, stating, "We all must operate within a budget. Inflation affects us all, making groceries and gas more expensive."

He expressed the hardship of dealing with these increased costs on a fixed income, describing it as a "double whammy" when faced with rising property taxes.

"We've continuously protested with the county to keep our taxes down, but we've seen no improvements," Clapp lamented. "Our properties are in disrepair, and we can't afford the upkeep as costs keep rising."

Andrea McCormick raised concerns about the deteriorating state of some properties in the city. "I pay $707 a year to maintain my lawn while my neighbors let theirs go," she observed. "They can't even access their own homes due to the overgrown lawns. When we're paying more to maintain our properties, and taxes keep increasing, something needs to change for the taxpayers."

In response to these concerns, Schneider explained that the city's goal was to hire an ordinance officer, but it wasn't feasible within the current budget constraints. Other questions were raised about the usage and type of the proposed ball field. Schneider clarified that turf would be used, and the public would have ample access to the fields when not in use for games.

The meeting concluded with a promise of continued dialogue between city officials and concerned citizens as they grapple with the challenges of rising inflation and budgetary constraints.