While researching several tax issues we feel everyone needs to know about this. We came across this case from November 2019. The Ranch at Sidney, LLC which is part of Cabelas filed an appeal with the state because of excess tax valuation by Melody Keller and other county officials dealing with 141.5 unimproved acres here in Sidney.
Melody Keller believed that the 2018 assessment of the Subject Property was incorrect, and she proposed a value of $469,260 ($11,932 more than the value determined by the previous Cheyenne County assessor and the County Board).
It Seems to Us…
Melody Keller valued 26.4 acres of land as irrigated when it was not. Further, the market values of the property were incorrect and no support was shown for the conclusions of the assessor.
Here is a quote from the conclusion of the Commission.
“The Commission finds that there is competent evidence to rebut the presumption that the County Board faithfully performed its duties and had sufficient competent evidence to make its determination. The Commission also finds that there is clear and convincing evidence that the County Board’s decision was arbitrary or unreasonable. For the reasons set forth above, the decision of the County Board is vacated and reversed. “
Big time difference!!!
County Value for Taxes- $469,260
Final value by Nebraska- $171,950
Yes, our County Assessor and Commission overtaxing is one thing but to have the judgment state that these actions by our county officials are arbitrary, unreasonable and without competent evidence is appalling to us.
Here is the entire court ruling for those that are like us and like to read court documents…
Cheyenne County Loss