VALENTINE, Neb. - Cherry County property owners might see a slight increase in their county taxes under the proposed 2024-2025 budget. However, others could actually see a decrease.

Sound complicated? We’ll try to break it down for you.

County commissioners held a public hearing on the proposed budget Tuesday. The budget calls for a tax request increase of around $109,000, but the proposed levy is decreasing by 12.56%.

That means that the average homeowner will likely only see an increase or decrease of a few dollars. Remember, this is only county taxes, not other taxes, such as school districts, Natural Resource Districts and community colleges.

Of the around $109,000 total increase, $100,000 is dedicated to cash reserves in the county’s general and road funds.

“Just like with everyone else, our expenses are going up,” County Commissioner Martin DeNaeyer said.

The commissioners also discussed how recent state legislation, LB 34, which places caps on cities and county governments, has shaped local budget planning. Some stated that it forces counties to always plan for potential emergencies because of budget caps.

A final vote on the budget is scheduled for the next commissioners' meeting on Sept. 24.