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."
Groene spent time Monday night pointing to two separate parts of the budget specifically, Iron Eagle Golf Course and the North Platte Recreation Center.
The golf course is supplemented by transfers from Keno funds, and stands to lose $289,000, causing the city to transfer $239,000 of Keno money and $50,000 from the general fund to the Iron Eagle budget.
"If it was making money, they wouldn't have to transfer those two over there," Groene said.
Groene also commented on the city's plan to spend $482,374 in the 2011-12 budget on the Recreation Center, which he said he believes should be run by a private for-profit, or non-profit organization.
"We're the only city, besides Omaha and Wayne, who has a publicly-owned Recreation Center," Groene said. "If you look at Scottsbluff, Kearney and Hastings, there are YMCAs. So they are non-profits."
"If they eliminated those two, they could cut your taxes by 25 percent."
The WNTA also expressed their concern over $100,000 and $20,000 from Lincoln County going to the North Platte Area Chamber of Commerce, saying government should not support business through what they called donations.
Groene commended the county for keeping taxes low, however.
"Their tax rate is towards the bottom," Groene said.
Groene also commented on Mid-Plains Community College's yearly budget. He said costs are increasing, but student numbers are declining.
"We're paying $9,200 dollars per student out there," Groene said. "I like junior colleges, but I don't like what we're doing to them with the money.
Despite receiving just under $9,000 through gate receipts, the athletic programs cost the state $1 million at Mid-Plains Community College.
The group also talked about the Twin Platte Natural Resource District. The district covers Arthur County, Keith County, the western two-thirds of McPherson County and northern three-fourths of Lincoln County.
The district has the highest tax rate of the 23 Nebraska Natural Resource Districts, at .069101. Groene said the group has no mandated well meters and no occupation tax on irrigated acres.
Citizen Bob Peterson said NRD is spending $4.5 million on a study to determine how to replenish the water in the Ogallala aquifer, which he said he was concerned about.
"It's scary, Mike. Their budget is almost 40 percent of carry-over money from last year," Tom Kennedy said. "They won't have any money next year."
2012 BUDGET Hearings: Times/Dates/Locations
WNTA targeted hot points
n City of North Platte - Tuesday, Sept. 6, 7:30 p.m. at City Hall
1. - Highest Municipal property tax rate in state.
2. - Cell-phone tax debate.
3. - 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.
4. - 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 percent).
5. - $100,000 donation to Chamber of Commerce.
n Lincoln County - Monday, Sept. 12, at 10 a.m. at Commissioners room at Courthouse.
1. $20,000 donation to Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce
n Educational Service Units - Tuesday, Sept. 13, at 7 p.m. at Ogallala in ESU conference room.
1. Tax rate is .015
n North Platte Public schools. TOO LATE. Budget Hearing was already held Aug, 9. But you can still comment about it at the Tuesday, Sept. 13, board meeting at 7:30 p.m. at the McKinley Administration building during the public comment period.
1. 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 disapproval on the lack of respect shown the taxpayers with the timing of the public comment. The board plans to accept the budget that night.
n Mid-Plains Community College - Sept. 14 at 6:15 p.m. at the North Campus. Covers 17 counties through the middle of Nebraska, from Cherry County in the north to Red Willow in the south.
1. College President's pay package is $208,046 amounting to 1-percent of total budget. Athletics bring in less than $9,000 in gate receipts but cost the taxpayer over $1 million. 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.
n Twin Valley Natural Resource District - Wednesday, Sept. 15, at 3 p.m., at North Campus of Mid-Plains Community College woods building, room 200. Coverage area includes Arthur, Keith, western two thirds of McPherson and the northern three-fourths of Lincoln County
1. 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 per acre fee. Middle is somewhere between $5 and $10 per acre.
Copyright © 2011 - North Platte Telegraph
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Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 12:20PM
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