City Council member Richard Meginnis made a last appeal Monday to his colleagues to commit to not taking full advantage of an expected property tax windfall.
Had the council approved the non-binding resolution introduced by Meginnis, the council would have officially expressed its intention to ask for no more than $92.4 million in property tax revenue to fund their 2023-24 budget.
The council didn’t go for it, voting against the resolution on a 5-2 vote. Councilwoman Tammy Ward voted with Meginnis to approve it.
Several council members acknowledged the city -- like other governmental subdivisions -- will likely have access to substantially more property tax revenue than they planned for because of a spike in property valuations, but said those decisions should be made as part of the regular budget process.
“I just think it’s a little early in the process to say ‘let’s lock this number in,’†said Councilman Bennie Shobe.
Meginnis said he’d like to see the resolution pass even though it’s nonbinding, because it signals the council’s intent not to take full advantage of any windfall.
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The Lancaster County Assessor’s office has said property valuations have increased 10%-30% this year. The city’s budget is based on a 6% increase.
Cities and other taxing entities, such as Lincoln Public Schools and Lancaster County, set a tax levy to collect the property taxes needed to fund their budgets.
They estimate how much property valuations will increase and propose a tax rate based on that estimate to collect what they need.
Meginnis, who did not run for reelection and was at his last meeting Monday, has long advocated that the city -- or other taxing entities -- take only the amount needed to fund the budget. If property valuations come in higher, he maintains, the city should give property owners relief by lowering the levy.
“I think it still comes down to affordability,†he said. “It’s the people living paycheck to paycheck that are going to have to pay more and it's going to be harder for them to make these payments.â€
Last week, about a half dozen people told the council why it's important for them to stick to the budget they approved last year.
Among those reasons was how it affects landlords, who will have to increase rents to cover the additional property taxes -- something they said is already happening in anticipation of rising property taxes.
“I think the citizens need the money as much or probably even more so than the city of Lincoln,†Meginnis said.Â
Top Journal Star photos for May 2023
Rebecca Rager greets her grandfather Alfred Zieg (from left) during a celebration before his birthday on Wednesday, in the Gramercy dining room on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at The Residence at Gramercy in Lincoln. 'It has been a life for sure," Alfred Zieg said during the celebration. "And on Wednesday I get to start all over again, right?"
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Muggs, a 6 year-old chocolate lab soars through the air chasing after a toy as he dives from the dock to the water following his dive on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at Paws 4 Fun in Lincoln. The diving event is part of the North America Diving Dogs (NADD) competition. Five judges rate each dog on the distance they jump to where their tail breaks the waters surface.
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Rider Sheila Ross shoots balloon targets on her horse, “Two ID Jet Mack†with a time of 15.828 seconds for the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association Championship at Lancaster Event Center on Friday. The event continues until Sunday.
HAYDEN ROONEY, Journal Star
Lincoln Southeast's Gavin Gerch hits a ball at the 18th hole during the Class A state golf tournament Wednesday at Norfolk Country Club.
LARRY ROBINSON, Journal Star
Fifth graders wave to the camera during the LPS day baseball game on, Monday, May 22, 2023, in Lincoln.
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Brady's Dillion Miller (right) celebrates after finishing first in the class D 100 meter dash final on the fourth day of the 2023 State Track and Field championships on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at Burke Stadium in Omaha.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Lincoln Lutheran's Logan Lebo celebrates as he crosses the finish line during the class C boys 800 meter final on the fourth day of the 2023 State Track and Field championships on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at Burke Stadium in Omaha.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Lincoln East's Troy Peltz (2) celebrates with Landon Sandy (16) and others after his throw to home plate retired the potential game-winning run in the Class A championship game Friday at Tal Anderson Field.
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KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
They Might Be Giant's trombonist Dan Levine, trumpet player Mark Pender and saxophonist Stan Harrison play together during a live performance on Sunday at the Bourbon Theatre in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Wayne's Laura Hasemann is photographed through a bush of flowers as she rounds the far corner of the track during the girls 4x800 meter relay on the first day of the 2023 State Track and Field championships on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at Burke Stadium in Omaha.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Norfolk's Jackson Bos prepares to throw during shot put warmups on the first day of the 2023 state track and field championships on Wednesday at Burke Stadium in Omaha.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Omaha Skutt players celebrate against Norris during the Class B girls state soccer tournament, Monday, May 15, 2023, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Wahoo's Conor Booth (14) is called out at third base after trying to steal against Elkhorn's Ryan Ellison (left)Â during a Class B state baseball game Saturday at Werner Park.
LARRY ROBINSON Journal Star
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Elkhorn South's Cole Eaton celebrates after scoring a triple in the sixth inning during the Class A boys state baseball tournament, Friday, May 12, 2023, at Werner Park in Papillion.
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Lacey Eddy (right), Scottish Rite Educator of the Year, embraces kindergarten students, including Reina Schomaker (left), after she was honored at an announcement ceremony Friday at Hartley Elementary.
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Creighton Prep's Thomas Pisasale (3) hits a back flip while being cheered on by Max Matthies (7) and Jack Johnson (11) after scoring the go-ahead goal against Lincoln Southwest during a Class A state semifinal match Friday in Omaha.
LARRY ROBINSON Journal Star
Omaha Duchesne's Sophie Owens (left) looks to pass to an open teammate during the Class B girls state soccer tournament, Thursday, May 11, 2023, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
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Lincoln fighter Andrew Huffman is stuck in the face by Kwajuan Mensah during their bout in Dynasty Combat Sport's Annual Spring Brawl on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln.
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Bennington's Ethan Korth (from left) and Conestoga's Kaden Simmerman and Rowdy Watson compete for the ball during the Class B boys state soccer tournament, Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Lincoln Southwest runs to celebrate after defeating Lincoln Pius X in a penalty kick shootout at the Class A girls state soccer tournament Tuesday in Omaha.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Lincoln Southeast's Angel Arellanes (right) and Papillion-La Vista South's Brodie Anderson (16) clash during the Class A boys state soccer tournament Monday in Omaha.
LARRY ROBINSON, Journal Star
Mid-Plains Community College's Casey Reis gets shaken off during a bull-riding event for the Cornhusker College Rodeo at the Lancaster Event Center on Saturday, May 6, 2023.
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Conestoga's Pelayo Biagioni lifts Jayden Widler on his shoulders to celebrate a 3-2 shootout win against Norris in the B-8 district championship on Saturday in Firth.
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Kristin Syde carries her niece Margot Wyrick, 1, as she runs with her daughter Anna Syde, 6, during the Mayor's Run Saturday at the state Capitol.
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Wahoo/BN/LL's players celebrate after defeating Waverly in the B-2 District final at Sam Crawford Field on Friday in Wahoo.
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Lincoln Southwest players take turns kissing the A-2 District championship plaque after defeating Elkhorn South on Thursday at Seacrest Field.
LARRY ROBINSON Journal Star
Lincoln East JV's Reid Voog loses his grip on his golf club after driving the ball from the sixth hole tee box during the LPS Boys Golf Championship on Thursday, May 4, 2023, at Mahoney Golf Course in Lincoln.
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Lincoln City Council candidate Tom Duden (right) embraces his wife Ronda Duden (center), along with his brother-in-law Rob Treptow at a Republican election night watch party Tuesday at Rosie's Downtown.
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Adam Morefeld is hugged by Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird as she enters an election night party for Democrats on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, at the DelRay Ballroom in Lincoln.
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An excavator works to clear debris from the area where a section of the Gold's Building once stood as redevelopment of the site continues on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, along 11th and N streets in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Arwen Wiechman, third grade, spins around while learning ballet during the Everett Community Learning Center after-school program on Monday. Dancers from the American Ballet Theatre led the students in dance exercises in advance of the company's performances on Tuesday and Wednesday of "Giselle" at the Lied Center for Performing Arts.
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Contact the writer at mreist@journalstar.com or 402-473-7226. On Twitter at @LJSReist.
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