Local government budgets approved...still few citizens attend public hearings

BEATRICE – Most area local governments have now approved their budgets for the coming year…some adopting biennial plans.
Four entities this week were required to participate in a Joint Public Agencies hearing at the Gage County Courthouse, because of a state law requirement on entities that raise their tax requests more than two percent.

It gives the public a chance to weigh in. But few citizens attend public hearings that might do more good….budget hearings conducted by the entities themselves before they vote to approve a plan.

"I think the thing that is probably a little more disappointing is the lack of people we had when we covered it at our public hearing at the end of August...and then when we passed our budget. I think that gives a little better overview of what the budget is. I think when you fill out a form, it doesn't necessarily include everything, or it double-includes some things."

Beatrice Mayor Bob Morgan and the city council recently approved the city’s biennial budget…conducting hearings where virtually no one showed up. That was the same for Beatrice Public School budget and tax request hearings, and for the public hearing conducted by the Gage County Board on the county’s budget.

According to one county supervisor, it costs the county more than $8,000 to mail out those pink cards advising taxpayers of the Joint Public Agency hearing.
Mayor Morgan says sometimes, one particular large-ticket item can prompt a lot of criticism from the public. "Everybody knows we have to do that project at 33rd and Lincoln. A million and a half of those dollars are ARPA funds...and the rest of the $3.3 million that's in this year's budget comes from a couple of the other departments in the board of public works. When we transferred the ARPA funds from our general fund to the street fund, it counted as an expense. And then, when we pay it out, it counts as another expense. So, that one-point-five on that sheet, looked like three million."

For Beatrice Public Schools, some residents have been angry about the new elementary school being built in east Beatrice….because it wasn’t put up to a public vote. State law allows the district to undertake the project through use of an interlocal agreement with the local Educational Service Unit. The project is financed by a local bank, using the school district’s building fund. That allows the district to avoid raising its overall tax rate.

Morgan says for the city, some residents don’t distinguish between the city and the board of public works….where one side is tax supported…and the other, by revenue from user fees.

"One of the things that I noticed about the public agency meeting, is that there was a discussion, like the city...we were able to lower our levy by five-point-five percent. I think every agency there, did. Property valuations went up, and there's where you had that extra money. When we went through the negotiation with the police department and did the right thing to pay them more, we probably would not have been able to lower our levy."

This year, the city eliminated the Beatrice Airport Aurhority and assumed airport operations under the regular city budget. The airport doesn’t receive property tax money….but derives funding through farm lease income, hangar leases and fuel sales.

"All in all, I think we've done a pretty responsible job and I think we continue to be transparent. I would encourage anybody who wants to know more about budgets, to contact city administration.....but more importantly, every year, whether its the school district, the city or the county....the best place to find your information and ask questions is when we have a public hearing on our budget, which typically happens well before this meeting in September."

People can review the city’s budget on its web page, by clicking on FY24—FY25 Budget, at the top of the page.