VOTE411 Voter Guide

The Assessor's office faces several challenges. First, rebuilding public trust through transparency--helping residents understand how values are determined and how to appeal. Second, keeping up with rapidly changing market conditions while ensuring assessments remain fair and equitable across similar properties. Third, improving data quality and modernizing technology utilized within the office is essential for accurate valuations and overall efficiency. Finally, expanding outreach so eligible property owners receive the exemptions they qualify for and deserve. So, at its core, the challenge is balancing accuracy, fairness, and clear communication with the public.

The County Assessor is responsible for delivering fair, accurate, and accountable property valuations that reflect the real market. This means treating similar properties consistently, keeping records current, and applying standards uniformly. The Assessor also administers exemptions, manages appeals, and ensures residents have a clear path and understand how to question their valuation. Just as important is transparency and accountability--openly explaining methods, using reliable data, and taking responsibility for decisions to maintain public trust in the the system.

Moving forward, I believe the Assessor's office should prioritize transparency, accuracy, and accountability. That means making property data and valuation methods easy to access and understand, while ensuring assessments reflect current market conditions and remain fair across all neighborhoods. Modernizing technology and improving data quality should be a key focus, along with streamlining the appeals process. The office should also expand outreach--especially for exemptions--so residents don't miss out on benefits they qualify for and deserve. Above all, rebuilding public trust through clear communication and consistent, strong leadership.

For many years under previous administrations, the office was on a three year cycle of property revaluations. This resulted in some fairly large increases in valuations. There was no rhyme or reason for this. Under my direction, we have moved to annual updates in valuations. This will bring predictability and stability for homeowners and will result in smaller valuation increases. This year, the increase in a single family home was an average of a 4.6% increase. Had we waited and done the three year cycle it would have been a fourteen percent increase.

Insuring that properties are assessed at market value based upon the information we gather with sales and inspections to determine condition issues. Listening and assisting property owners with questions on how we arrive at values. The Assessor does not set the tax rates. That is done by the various taxing authorities, i.e. Cities, the County, and the School Districts. Valuations do not need to result in a tax increase. Assisting property owners in becoming aware of the governing bodies and their contact information to become more informed of their budgetary processes.

We are in the process of implementing a new computer assisted mass appraisal software, which replaces a twenty plus year system. This will help appraisers out in the field with mobile devices. It will give us the ability to more easily develop reports of various types. This is a multi year project and will be done in March of 2028. Continuing out reach to persons sixty five and older to assist them in learning about the Homestead Exemption program which can reduce property taxes based on income. This is funded by the State of Nebraska, so there is no additional pressure on property tax payers. Our efforts this past three years that I have been in office has resulted in a 15% increase in the number of homeowners utilizing this program.