COLUMBUS -- Two Platte County Supervisors were among those who filed tax protest this year with the Platte County Clerk.
This year’s 195 protests were heard by the Platte County Board of Equalization July 21-23. The board of equalization is made up of the Platte County Board of Supervisors.
Supervisors Myron Franzen, District 3, and Ron Pfeifer, District 4, each made the argument that unimproved agricultural land valuations should be made based on the type or classification of the soil rather than the market value of properties within each market area of the county.
Franzen and Pfeifer both protested valuations of parcels located in Platte County identified as Market Area 6 by Platte County Assessor Vanora Mulligan.
“If all the county were treated as one area instead of three market areas, my property would have had a lower valuation due to the type of soil we are talking about,” Franzen said. “My property in Market Area 6 is the same type of soil that they have in some parts of the other market areas and should be valued the same based on that fact.”
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2 supervisors protest valuations
By Eric Freeman
efreeman@columbustelegram.com
efreeman@columbustelegram.com
Monday, Aug 10, 2009 - 10:05:27 am CDT
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tapped out
Aug 10, 2009 10:30 AM
I have poor soil in my yard so I think I should get a tax break too.paul canaday
Aug 10, 2009 11:12 AM
The argument is valid, but the protest won't get anywhere until the State of Nebraska ditches the "market area" method of valuation they continue to use, which rewards farms with better quality soils and punishes farms with poorer quality soils located within the same market area. The county board of equalization has no choice but to deny any protest based upon that argument. Its a matter of State Law.
Sand Hog
Aug 10, 2009 1:58 PM
Ha Ha. We protested some years ago, we had the poorest type of soil in the county but they refused to change the value of our land. Our neighbors can grow corn and crops, we grow cedars, cactus and brush and not much more those supervisors who are now complaining did not give us a break. So they should not get one.Dave Haney
Aug 11, 2009 7:26 AM
Why cant county's and citys just simply charge 1 flat rate for an acre irregardless of what type of soil??? can you imagine how much more simpler it would be when calculating taxes,but i suppose that would be smart.as always put a KISS on it(keep it simple stupid).paul canaday
Aug 11, 2009 10:07 AM
Dave H:A flat tax per acre simply won't work. The acre's ability to generate income for its owner varies significantly. It wouldn't be fair.
Some land is absolutely worthless, while other land can generate substantial revenue. That's what makes an acre near WalMart worth more than an acre located sand blow-out Northwest of Duncan.
sandhogTRUE
Aug 11, 2009 10:24 AM
Those same supervisors Will use their power to help themselvesI can prove that and it is Baloney
Yes
Deal with it
It is true
Just a thought
Aug 11, 2009 1:11 PM
Sand HogMaybe if you tried planting corn seed instead of cedar, cactus and brush seed.
Sand Hog
Aug 11, 2009 2:02 PM
The land is pure sand, It grows no crops.Just some grass. It is the poorest type of land in Platte County. It is no good for building, as it would be flood prone.
The red cedar in the last few years has been come a real problem and it is not cheap to clear it off the land. The cactus come in with flood water and have become a problem also. we can run about 10 cow, calf pairs. Not much income. On 150 A. The supervisors need to work on getting the State to come up with a better way of taxing land.
Just a thought
Aug 11, 2009 2:20 PM
Sand HogIn that case the taxes should be a lot less. I wonder if even watermelon would grow.
paulcanaday
Aug 11, 2009 6:24 PM
Sand Hog's last sentence:"The supervisors need to work on getting the State to come up with a better way of taxing land" is DEAD ON!
Even the local County Assessor will agree the present system is antiquated and unfair.
Senator Stuthman, how about that to shake up the apple cart in Lincoln for your last term? Go out with both guns blazing!! I'll even testify for free.
LOL
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