Representative of Nebraska counties says assessors aren't to blame for property tax increases

A county officials’ representative is taking exception to Gov. Jim Pillen’s implying county assessors are to blame for property tax increases.

In a recent radio call-in show, Pillen pointed to rising valuations and said “What’s going on with county assessors across the state is unacceptable.”

But Jon Cannon, executive director of the Nebraska Association of County Officials, said the governor’s criticism is misdirected.

"I think it's unfortunate that he felt the need to say it in quite those terms, especially given that there are two levels of executive branch oversight of how assessments are done in the state," Cannon said.

Cannon added the state property tax administrator and the Tax Equalization and Review Commission review assessments. Those assessments are supposed to reflect actual market value, and are multiplied by locally set levy rates to determine property tax bills.

Pillen has set up a hotline for people to express concerns in hopes of spurring legislative change.