Two giveth, others taketh

To Omaha taxpayers bracing for next year's property tax increase, news of tax cuts in Ralston and Valley might make those suburbs seem like the promised land.

The owners of an Omaha house valued at $100,000 will pay as much as $83 more next year, depending on their school district. In contrast, the taxes on a house in Valley with the same valuation will drop $17. In Ralston, the taxes will decrease about $4.

But before you pack up and move to the suburbs, consider this: The total property tax bill will still be higher next year in Ralston and Valley than in most parts of Omaha.

The World-Herald has calculated taxes for people in Douglas and Sarpy County cities, using the rates proposed or set in recent weeks by the local governments and school districts that make up the total bill.

Except for those living in Ralston and Valley, homeowners in metropolitan-area communities will pay more next year in total property taxes. That assumes that a home's valuation wasn't changed this year by the county assessor.

Why are taxes going up?

First, everyone in the two-county area starts with nearly $23 in extra taxes on a $100,000 house because of a new learning community tax and a sharp tax rate increase for Metro Community College. Both apply to all property owners in Douglas and Sarpy Counties.

For Omahans, the main factor is the city government's 10 percent tax rate increase, which amounts to $42 extra on a $100,000 house.

Property tax rates are also going up in the Omaha Public Schools and the Papillion-La Vista school district.

But some school districts and local governments are reducing their tax rates. In Valley, both the city and the Douglas County West school district dropped their tax rates, leading to an overall decrease in tax bills.

Despite the changes, tax rates in Omaha still rank in the bottom half of the two counties, except for the part of Omaha inside the Elkhorn school district.

The World-Herald's comparison does not include taxes for people who live in rural areas or in sanitary and improvement districts. Many SIDs have higher tax rates than those in nearby cities.

Contact the writer:

444-1114, paul.goodsell@owh.com