How Red Willow County ranks in property tax list

It will be interesting to see how the county stands in next year's line-up, but Red Willow County taxpayers haven't done too poorly when compared to others in Southwest Nebraska and elsewhere around the state.

On average, local governments are in line to collect an average of 7 percent more in property taxes than they did this year, and most of the money will come from owners of existing property, according to a state agency.

By ranking, Hitchcock County voters took the second-highest property tax hit from 2005 to 2006, a 15.25 percent increase, according to figures released by the Nebraska Department of Property Assessment and Taxation.

Only Blaine County property taxes increased more, with 19.33 percent.

Area counties, by rank in descending order, include Hayes with 13.52 percent, Dundy with 6.55 percent, Chase with 6.43 percent, Red Willow with 3.6 percent, and Frontier and Furnas two of only four counties with actual decreases in taxation, -0.24 percent and -0.81 percent, respectively.

Statewide, property taxes climbed $160 million in 2006 from 2005, the latest figures available, for a total of $2.442 billion. Taxes levied this year are due to be paid in 2007.

Local voters turned down a new joint or county public safety center, but local school district patrons are paying off the new McCook Elementary primary school, and McCook residents are burdened with the new water treatment plant and wastewater improvements, through their city utility bills.

But we can be grateful Nebraska voters didn't pass the statewide spending lid, which probably would have pushed property taxes even higher.