N-CORPE, property taxes topics for Hughes call
McCOOK, Neb. — The Lincoln County N-CORPE water augmentation project, intended to help Nebraska comply with the 1943 Republican River Compact and blamed by some neighbors for causing erosion damage along Medicine Creek, isn’t expected to pump water this year.
“Fortunately it doesn’t look like N-CORPE will be pumped this year at all,” said District 44 State Sen. Dan Hughes this morning during his weekly legislative conference call.
Sen. Hughes indicated compact compliance was aided by closer to normal levels of rain, “and the state of Kansas being a better partner in the way we account for the water.”
He said Nebraska was now able to keep some of the water they were allocated in the ground and release it to Kansas at a later date if needed.
While the potential for erosion damage from water pumped into Medicine Creek by the Nebraska Cooperative Republican Platte Enhancement project may be lessened this year, the project still looks to be highly debated among state lawmakers.
Sen. Hughes said property taxes paid on the Natural Resource District owned N-CORPE land has drawn concerns pertaining to a government agency paying taxes to another government agency, which is prohibited.
N-CORPE management filed a protest after paying the taxes, which Sen. Hughes indicated was for compliance reasons and not stemming from a desire to recoup the money.
He subsequently introduced a bill last week that would allow local governments to keep the taxes already paid and allow payments “in lieu of taxes” in the future. He said concerns were raised that the local school district would be asked to repay money it had already spent.
“The bill will make it OK for NRDs to pay in lieu of taxes and allow any taxes that have been paid to not have to be repaid. Hopefully, it will address concerns of government agencies paying taxes to other government agencies,” said Sen. Hughes. He added the legislation, LB 758, should also increase some of the transparency things moving forward and assist with a similar taxing scenario pertaining to a Rock Creek project.
District 42 State Sen. Mike Groene of North Platte is pushing for the N-CORPE group to sell the land, according to Sen. Hughes. “I disagree and think that would have serious unintended consequences,” said Hughes.