Taxpayers group takes aim at city budg

By Andrew Bottrell

Published: Tuesday, August 30, 2011 4:08 AM CDT

A group of area taxpayers are unhappy with how several governmental agencies are spending their money.

With public budget hearings coming up in six different governmental agencies, the Western Nebraska Taxpayers Association met Monday night to talk about area government budgets. President Mike Groene said he was most displeased with the city of North Platte's budget and the amount of property taxes area citizens pay.

"It's the most mismanaged entity in this area," Groene said, saying the property tax rate is one of the highest in the state, "and it doesn't seem like it's changing."

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2012 BUDGET Hearings

Hot points you could mention when you testify at hearings.

City of North Platte...Tuesday September 6^th 7:30 PM at City Hall

A-Highest Municipal property tax rate in state.

B- Cell-phone tax debate.

C- Golf Course budgeted to lose $289,000: Taxpayers will support Golf Course- with $239,000 of Keno money and $50,000 out of General Fund. 

D- Rec-Center cost the taxpayer $594,496 to operate last year over and above revenues. Budgeted to Cost the taxpayer $482,374 for 2012.  $ 911,074 cost to operate revenues forecasted to be   $539,720.   Good news Rec-Center budget down (9.32%).

E- $100,000 donation to Chamber of Commerce.

F- Airport Authority asking For $829,967 in taxing authority down from $890,400 in 2011. Start of a new trend; maybe?

County...   Monday   September 12^th at 10:00AM Commissioners room at Courthouse.

$20,000 donation to Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce

Educational Service Units... Tuesday  September 13^th at 7:00 pm Ogallala in ESU conference room.

Tax rate is .015

North Platte Public schools... TOO LATE.  Budget Hearing was already held August 9^th.   But you can still comment about it at the Tuesday September 13^th board meeting at 7:30 pm in the McKinley Administration building . During the public comment period.

 The school board has made attempts to silence the public by moving the public comment period to the end of the meeting after decisions by the board have already been made. It still is a good time to address to board and voice your disproval on the lack of respect shown the taxpayers with the timing of the public comment..   The board plans to accept the budget that night.  If you want to get a good summary of the School Budget you might want to get a hold of last week’s Bulletin.  In it George Lauby did a good piece of journalism about the teacher’s contract and the 2012 budget

Midplains Community College.  . . September 14^th at 6:15 PM North Campus. Covers 17 counties through the middle of Nebraska, from Cherry county in the north to Red Willow in the south.

 College  President’s pay package is 208,046 amounting to  1% of total  budget. Athletics  bring in less than $9,000 in gate receipts but cost the taxpayer over $1 million in cost. Taxpayers pay $9,208 of the tuition cost for every Full time equivalent student (FTE) and the student is paying on average $2,578 in tuition towards their education.

Twin Valley Natural Resource District... Wednesday September 15^th at 3:00PM at North Campus Mid Plains Community College woods building room 200. Coverage area includes  Arthur, Keith, western 2/3rds of McPherson, and the northern ¾’s of Lincoln counties.

Highest tax rate of the 23 Nebraska Natural Resource districts at .069101. They have no mandated well meters; they have no occupation tax on irrigated acres.  Upper Republican planning on $10.00 acre fee.  Middle is somewhere between $5 and $10 per acre.