LB 256 (2018) was passed by the Nebraska Legislature and sign by the then governor on March 21, 2018. The intent of the bill is to address vacant buildings in communities that can create problems with crime, arson, public health issues, and lower property values. Now this law is written through the eyes of big city Lincoln bureaucrats, with good intentions (highways to hell are completely paved with them) of stopping major issues in vacant properties within BIG communities. But this is a blanket "solution" thrown at communities of all sizes with the the first intent of raising revenue via taxes. This bill is in no way designed for the panhandle and rural areas. The second intent is what is claimed in the text of the bill; stop crime, public health issues, etc.
Here is the text from the bill: The INITIAL registration fee is up to $250 on residential dwellings and Up to $1000 on commercial dwellings. A supplemental registration fee shall not be more than double the previous fee amount, with a maximum supplemental registration fee of 10 times the initial registration fee amount.
No home owner or property owners want to get caught in this mess. This bill has the intent and potential of stacking up fees and the confiscation of property by local governments.
In the Sidney city council meeting on May 9th, the city manager David Scott presented to the city council that the way to motivate owners of buildings in downtown Sidney that are currently empty, is to fine them. Not offer incentives, fine them. His logic was they still need to provide services etc. Isn't that the purpose of the ridiculous property taxes? The city also has a code enforcement officer for these types of issues. This is the difference between a business person and an unelected bureaucrat, Scott is obviously the latter. Another reason this is just an excuse to generate more revenue via taxes.
So, we can't grow business in downtown Sidney because of sky high taxes and a horrible business climate; so now the plan is to impose more fees (TAXES) on property owners? As we said before, this is a blanket "big city solution" being exploited by a tax and spend city manager. This is not a huge city where squatting goes unnoticed. If something is happening in a building in and around Illinois, Jackson, Hickory, etc its going to be noticed. The city manager is simply taking advantage of an ordinance to generate more revenue to their already bloated budget. Remember our golf course that cost a half a million a year in public funding?
The city leadership is boxed into a corner because of poor decisions made on infrastructure development that did not pan out (Bond debt). Plus there are special assessments on the properties out by the hospital that is hindering and downright stopping any development of new affordable housing in the city. Now the city manager is sitting around reading new laws to shake down tax payers for more money after the failed economic policies keep piling up.
Below is a link to the text of the law. It's only a couple pages long. This city manger will continue using any revenue generating law to squeeze property owners in this city. Enough is enough. Control your spending. Stop with the shake downs.