CURTIS -- The Middle Republican Natural Resources District decided Tuesday not to include in next year's property tax request the additional 4.57-cent property tax authorized under LB701.

Occupation taxes at $7.13 per irrigated acre also will not be requested. The MRNRD adopted the 2008-09 budget at its regular meeting Tuesday at Curtis that totals $5 million and without the added revenue of LB701 taxes.

(Advertisement)

The property tax request for 2007-08 generated $1.7 million for the general fund and the request for 2008-09 will total about $1.03 million.

Dan Smith, MRNRD general manager, said the decision by board members not to request the LB 701 taxes was "practical" in response to the lawsuit that challenges the constitutionality of LB701, now on appeal at the Nebraska Supreme Court.

"Obviously, I'd rather work on projects than on lawsuits," Smith said. "I would rather have the opportunity to do projects and use the funding but the lawsuit has put a lot of things on hold."

The two other NRDs in the Republican River Basin also voted not to ask for the additional LB701 property taxes. The Upper NRD in Imperial voted at its regular board meeting Sept. 2 not to ask for the additional 10-cent levy in next year's tax request but did keep the $4-per acre occupation tax.

Like the MRNRD, The Lower Republican Natural Resources District has also decided not to ask LB701 property or occupation taxes for next year's budget.

Nebraska NRDs