York County Press Release
YORK COUNTY—Recently, York County Commissioner Chairman Randy Obermier was asked to testify before state lawmakers regarding a resolution that would put the question of whether or not inheritance tax should cease on the ballot.
“The state instituted the inheritance tax many years ago, not counties,” Obermier said to his fellow county board members this past week. “A number of counties, including York County, were asked by the Nebraska Association of County Officials, to testify regarding the importance of inheritance tax to local governments.”
The following is Commissioner Obermier’s testimony:
“I am here today in opposition to LR13CA and to give you a brief glimpse of York County’s story. We are close to starting our budget process for the fiscal year 2025-2026. As most of you should know, we look at what it’s going to take to offer the services our county’s residents not only need but have come to expect. Services like law enforcement, corrections, road department, 911 call center, and many more. Over the past couple of years, those services have cost our county’s property taxpayers around $8 million. That number would be more, but it is offset by revenue we collect. One of those revenue sources is inheritance tax. To date in this budget year, we have collected $500,000.
“I am not here today whining, as one of our constituents put it on a wonderful social media Facebook post. I am here to tell you it is a source of revenue which over the last year funded a $375,000 motor grader. This purchase will continue to happen with or without inheritance tax on a yearly basis. $400,000 is committed to a broadband expansion project this spring. Area on Aging received $69,438 this budget year. The reappraisal fund received $75,444 this year. Some of the non-profits we support are: CASA, $42,000; Blue Valley, $16,000; Hope Crisis Center, $13,000; York County Development Corporation, $76,000; SENDD (Southeast Nebraska Development District), $7,449; Kilgore Library, $17,500.
“I bring these non-profits up because it is not mandatory but the value they bring to our county far exceeds the cost to the fund. I feel it is money well spent. Counties collectively receive $90 million annually through this tax. If it is lowered or goes completely away as LR13CA would do, counties will no doubt have hard decisions to make. We will deal with the hand we are given.
“I will close by saying, since this conversation has come to the forefront over the last couple of years, I have had the opportunity to discuss and tell our story. Let’s face it, nobody likes taxes, but everybody expects services. And given the choice of a service going away or putting additional pressure on property taxes,s almost always they will ask for the inheritance tax to stay in place.”
