Commissioners set levies on subdivisions

McCOOK, Neb. — At their weekly meeting Monday morning, Red Willow County commissioners adopted resolutions allocating final levies and tax dollars for subdivisions subject to the county levy:

Danbury Cemetery: Taxes allocated, $3,745; levy rate, $0.007425.

Hamburg Cemetery: Taxes allocated $1,000; levy rate, $0.003591.

Lebanon Cemetery: Taxes allocated $3,000; levy rate, $0.010112.

High Plains Historical Society: Taxes allocated, $20,400; levy rate, $0.001612.

In 1998, the Nebraska Legislature passed the “Mutual Finance Assistance Act” to provide aid to rural or suburban fire protection districts (FPDs) and mutual finance organizations (MFOs) for the purpose of financing operational and equipment needs for fire protection, emergency response, or training within their joint areas of operation. According to the Nebraska state treasurer’s website, every community and rural area depends heavily on its fire protection and emergency services. This MFO bill was intended to help those areas in Nebraska that have a high rural population percentage.

An “MFO” was created through interlocal agreement by Red Willow County’s rural fire districts. It requires all members of the MFO to levy the same property tax rate within their boundaries for the purpose of jointly funding the operations of all its members.

That tax levy for each of the rural fire districts in Bartley, Beaver Valley, Indianola and Red Willow Western is $0.038000 per $100 of a property’s tax valuation.

On Monday, Commissioners approved requests for these 2018-19 levy allocations for fire districts:

* Bartley Rural Fire District: The MFO levy of $.038000 will raise $60,000 in taxes.

* Beaver Valley Rural Fire District: The MFO levy of $.038000 will raise $68,000 in taxes.

* Indianola Rural Fire District: The MFO levy of $.038000 will raise $94,700 in taxes.

* Red Willow Western Rural Fire Department: The MFO levy of $.038000 will raise $75,955 in taxes.

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In other action Monday morning:

— Chris Mehringer told commissioners that state statute requires that all courthouses fly the Nebraska flag, and he asked commissioners to fly the state flag on the Red Willow County courthouse.

— Kevin Potthoff asked commissioners to fly the American flag at half-staff in honor of Arizona Sen. John McCain, who died Aug. 25.