2000-04 Blair GatewayN
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I
r
BULK RATE
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
BLAIR, NEBRASKA
PERMIT NO. 47
ZIP CODE 68008
roperty taxes can be difficult to understand, but here is an easy way to compute the taxes on your
home. First, the value is established by the Washington County Assessor based on actual market
value (what your property would be worth if sold today). Once the value is established, govern-
mental units set their levies based on the amount of tax dollars needed to support their progra rnis.
Here is an example. Let's say the assessor values your property in Blair at $80,000. Divide that
figure by $100, to get 800. Multiply the 800 by the individual levies that apply. That will give you
the taxes due. The current taxes on a property valued at $80,000 are shown in the table below:
Local Govt. Unit
Valuation
Levies
Property Tax
Percent Total
Blair Comm. Schools
$80,000 $100
$1.100556
$880.45
59.8%
City of Blair
$8000 $100
.348288
278.63
18.9%
I Washington
Arlington
0.433992
0.258757
1.087438
1 Other
$80,000-. $100
.109456
87.56
6.0%
Total
0.258210
$1.840179
$1,472.15
100.0%
Local government units adjust their levies each year to compensate for valuation changes. From 1997-1998 to
1999-2000, the value of all property in Blair increased from $228,226,461 to $295,822,825. In response, the
City reduced its levy from $0.435859 to $0.348288. The City's revenue from property tax increased 3.67% from
$994,764 to $1,030,315.
How do Blair's taxes compare with taxes in nearby communities? The City of Blair's levy is the lowest in
the area.
City
City Le my
County Levy
School Levy
Blair
$0.348288
$0.258757
$1.100556
Fremont
0.363000
0.231220
1.065163
Bellevue
0.406644
0.300310
1.140332
Arlington
0.433992
0.258757
1.087438
LaVista
0.450000
0.300310
1.274853
Elkhorn
0.462140
0.258210
1.236790
Omaha
0.487350
0.258210.
1.077100
Millard
0.487350
0.258210
1.312750
Papillion
0.487770
0.800310
1.274853
Bennington
0.655800
0.258210
1.095820
Ralston
0.656060
0.258210,
1.228500
Property tax revenues are then used by the governmental units to provide services to the citizens. In the City of
Blair, your tax dollars support public services including law enforcement, fire protection, street maintenance,
parks, library, recreation, animal control, snow removal and cemetery.
TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COUNCIL:
To schedule an issue before the City Council, simply stop- by City
Hall at 218 South 16th Street and complete a ""Request to
Appear" form before noon • the first • third Thursday of the month.
218 South 16th Street/Blair, Nebraska 68008 (402) 426-4191 Fax: (402) 426-4195
Business Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. e-mail: cityoffilairft untel. net
www.blairnebraska.org
CITY OF BLAIR
SALES TAX FUNI
Sales Tax Collected $1,061,806.48
(First 15 months)
0
,, i nterest Income 9
State T-21 reimbursement 237,720.11
(1 Oth and Jackson Street)
Total $1 022.38
Hwy 30 East $130,563.90
Asphalt Street Overlays 189,457.56
Total $1
BALANCE ON MARCH 1, 2000 $199,707.1
Alk •
Page Hotline
and at Area
Agenda summaries are also available on the City's
telephone hotline, at 533-CITY (2489). Or, you may obtain
a copy at City Hall, Blair Superfoods and No Frills.
RATIO OF CITIZENS T''
POLICE OFFICERS I
The statistics were obtained from the Nebraska Crime Com-
mission and compiled by Blair Police Department Chief Mary
Doeden.
RATIO OF CITIZENS TO POUCE OFFICERS
FIRST CLASS CITIES
Department
Authorized
1998
Citizens per
Positions,
Population
Off icer
Full Time
Holdrege
7
5,974
853
Lexington
14
10
722
Fremont
35
24,415
697
Kearney
40
27,536
688
Elkhorn
9
6,200
688
Seward
9
6
677
Bellevue
.66
43,939
665
Wayne
8
5,294
661
Norfolk
37
23,645
639-
York
13
8,146
626
Papillion
24
14,900
620
Hastings
37
22,123
597
Columbus
35
20,880
596
Blair
13
7,729
594
Grand Island
73
43,195
591
Plattsmouth
12
7,031
585
North Platte
41
23,418
571
Beatrice
22
12,552
570
McCook
15
7,898
526
Ralston
12
6,317
526
Gering
15
7,864
524
Nebraska City
13
6,821
524
Crete
10
5,124
512
Sidney
12
6,103
508
Chadron
12
5,830
485
La Vista
25
11,903
476
S. Sioux City
24
11,313
471
Ogallala
11
5,105
464
Alliance
21
9,742
463
Scottsbluff
32
14,379
449
Source: Nebraska Crime Commission, 1998
Thell3lair Gatewa April, 2000
•Fire chief-Jim Olsen
•First assistant chief-Lonnie Penry
•Second assistant chief-Rick Nielsen
7 ............
IN STREET
RIGHT=0FmWAY
The City's Violations Bureau is responsible
for enforcement of these ordinances. Any
citizen can register a complaint with the
Bureau, in person at City Hall (218 South
16th Street), by phone (426-4191) or by
letter. Your complaint may be registered
anonymously. City staff does not release
names of complainants; however, if the
violation becomes a County Court matter,
release of the complainant's name may be
necessary. City staff and officials are also
on the lookout for ordinance violations.
When a complaint is received, the city
verifies the violation by sending an inspec-
tor to the property. If a code violation ex-
ists, a courtesy letter is sent to the property
owner, giving them a grace period of three
days to correct the situation. After three
days, the property is reinspected. If the
The Blair Gatewa y April, 2000
0 UNDERSTANDING LOCAL PROPERTY TAX
LIJ
5:00 P.1,11.
First Monday
7:00 P.M.
First Tuesday
7:30 P.M.
Second Wednesday
7:00 P.M.
Third Tuesday
Noon
Third Thursday
The Library Board meets at the Blair Public Library, 210 South 17th
Street. -
All other meetings are at Blair City Hall, 218 South 16th Street.
cwa��..MEMORIAL DAY �
1Vlemorial Da decorations ma be placed in the
Blair Cemeter beginning on May 2
Decorations left of ter June S will be 'Collected and
discarded b cemeter staff
Please, no glass items or decorations.
April, 2000
The Blair Gateway