And this tonight - was a disaster. A public meeting,- https://webmail.centurylink.net/mail#2 - "Postcard going out to all real property owners in Douglas County & Joint Public Hearing on Wed, Sept 21 A new law passed (LB644, amended by LB927) that requires counties, cities, community colleges, and school districts to participate in a joint public hearing if they are going to request a property tax amount that exceeds their allowable growth percentage (i.e. their property tax request exceeds their property taxes from the previous year by over a certain amount).... The joint public hearing required by LB644/LB927 will be Wednesday, September 21, at 6:05 PM in the Legislative Chamber (second floor) of the Omaha-Douglas Civic Center, 1819 Farnam Street, Omaha, NE 68183. The meeting will be televised on Cox Channel 18 and streamed live on Douglas County's Board Meetings web page...."??? More information on the joint public hearing can be found on the Douglas County Clerk's Joint Public Hearing Information webpage, which contains basic information about the joint public hearing.
To my knowledge - it was not. Usually there are TV news Channels cameras present, and the proceedings are displayed on screens in the LC. Tonight they were not. And the web site hasn't posted it , as yet! Guess they don't want Citizens to see , hear them - nor those offering "Citizen Comments". While "presenting" each Rep. faced the others, backs to the citizens!. There were some handouts, but no simple plain english slides of figures,...., and probably not well understood!
The controversy began when many of the the "postcards" mailed out were maybe received Sat., but they were misprinted, had to be redone, re mailed. Pretty short notice if valid cards not received till Tuesday or Wednesday! Many there were upset with that and the increases! We got only two minutes at the podium! There was no two way "discussion". Rep's of the taxing bodies just sat and appeared to be listening - but? No responses!
Started at 6:05 pm with the P of A. Ended just before 9. Speakers had to sign in! I don't think they made reference to the Copy of the NE Open Meetings Act, and I think the rules and procedure, format used Violated the "Intent" of the OMA - which "...the Co. Attny and the Ne AG Shall enforce. They were not there, and, by the way - neither was the Co. Assessor. That was mentioned by many!
Great news! If you can't make it to the next Douglas County Board, I will submit this during my "Citizen Comments (5 min's)- next Tuesday. Groundwork for that was laid out last Tuesday ! https://commissioners.douglascounty-ne.gov/board-meetings/videos 9/20/22! Watch! And the Omaha City Council at https://citycouncil.cityofomaha.org/view-council-meetings.
https://www.douglascountyclerk.org/joint-public-hearing-information
And this tonight - was a disaster. A public meeting,- https://webmail.centurylink.net/mail#2 - "Postcard going out to all real property owners in Douglas County & Joint Public Hearing on Wed, Sept 21 A new law passed (LB644, amended by LB927) that requires counties, cities, community colleges, and school districts to participate in a joint public hearing if they are going to request a property tax amount that exceeds their allowable growth percentage (i.e. their property tax request exceeds their property taxes from the previous year by over a certain amount).... The joint public hearing required by LB644/LB927 will be Wednesday, September 21, at 6:05 PM in the Legislative Chamber (second floor) of the Omaha-Douglas Civic Center, 1819 Farnam Street, Omaha, NE 68183. The meeting will be televised on Cox Channel 18 and streamed live on Douglas County's Board Meetings web page...."??? More information on the joint public hearing can be found on the Douglas County Clerk's Joint Public Hearing Information webpage, which contains basic information about the joint public hearing.
To my knowledge - it was not. Usually there are TV news Channels cameras present, and the proceedings are displayed on screens in the LC. Tonight they were not. And the web site hasn't posted it , as yet! Guess they don't want Citizens to see , hear them - nor those offering "Citizen Comments". While "presenting" each Rep. faced the others, backs to the citizens!. There were some handouts, but no simple plain english slides of figures,...., and probably not well understood!
The controversy began when many of the the "postcards" mailed out were maybe received Sat., but they were misprinted, had to be redone, re mailed. Pretty short notice if valid cards not received till Tuesday or Wednesday! Many there were upset with that and the increases! We got only two minutes at the podium! There was no two way "discussion". Rep's of the taxing bodies just sat and appeared to be listening - but? No responses!
Started at 6:05 pm with the P of A. Ended just before 9. Speakers had to sign in! I don't think they made reference to the Copy of the NE Open Meetings Act, and I think the rules and procedure, format used Violated the "Intent" of the OMA - which "...the Co. Attny and the Ne AG Shall enforce. They were not there, and, by the way - neither was the Co. Assessor. That was mentioned by many!
https://omaha.com/news/local/people-show-up-for-first-of-its-kind-joint-public-hearing-on-property-tax-increases/article_8b641958-39e4-11ed-b52c-d71d0714ff63.html - Christopher Burbach Sep 21, 2022 Updated 1 hr ago 0 - (The OWH version)
That's all for now!