Why are Nebraskans indifferent to high property taxes? (Omaha, Lincoln: middle-class, sales)

[MattDen]

I was wondering I was looking up some stuff despite being a renter I am interested in why Nebraskans seem to be indifferent to paying very, very property taxes. I even asked some lifelong Nebraskans about it and they said they enjoy the high property taxes and wouldnt have it any other way.

For example, Ralston (Nebraska) on a 100,000 home the property tax is 2,363 dollars. Omaha it is 2,170 dollars on a 100,000 home. Sales taxes are 7% in Nebraska also. Lincoln is just under 2,000 dollars on a 100,000 dollar home yet has huge deficits as of late.

In Colorado: Fountain has a sales tax of 6.9 percent and property taxes on a 100,000 home are about 370 dollars. Colorado Springs is under 500 dollars per 100,000 home valuation. Denver I believe is about 525 dollars per 100,000 dollars valuation.

Fountain is a middle-class suburb of Colorado Springs where home prices are similar to Ralston, Nebraska.

I am just wondering why Nebraskans seem to be ultra-ultra tolerant of very, very high property tax rates and tend to get very, very little as far as infrastructure.

Nebraskans seem to think that high property taxes are a matter of incredible of pride.

[monkeynoodle]

High taxes yes, Great school system yes! Half of my Taxes (Lincoln Resident) go to the school system. I have no problem with it. The parks and city services are great here also. I come from a cesspool city in Northwest Iowa that has similar Lincoln taxe rates, that does not have near the services lincoln offers. I think nebraska lacks the taxes collected from tourism that Colorado residents benefit from. ( Thus lowering property taxes?)

[debct]

Originally Posted by MattDen

I was wondering I was looking up some stuff despite being a renter I am interested in why Nebraskans seem to be indifferent to paying very, very property taxes. I even asked some lifelong Nebraskans about it and they said they enjoy the high property taxes and wouldnt have it any other way.

For example, Ralston (Nebraska) on a 100,000 home the property tax is 2,363 dollars. Omaha it is 2,170 dollars on a 100,000 home. Sales taxes are 7% in Nebraska also. Lincoln is just under 2,000 dollars on a 100,000 dollar home yet has huge deficits as of late.

In Colorado: Fountain has a sales tax of 6.9 percent and property taxes on a 100,000 home are about 370 dollars. Colorado Springs is under 500 dollars per 100,000 home valuation. Denver I believe is about 525 dollars per 100,000 dollars valuation.

Fountain is a middle-class suburb of Colorado Springs where home prices are similar to Ralston, Nebraska.

I am just wondering why Nebraskans seem to be ultra-ultra tolerant of very, very high property tax rates and tend to get very, very little as far as infrastructure.

Nebraskans seem to think that high property taxes are a matter of incredible of pride.

Try living on the east coast, then talk about high taxes. From a person on the east coast the taxes do not seem high at all. Another thing is where I live, you can not even find a house for 100k. On my street houses that are 900 square feet are going for 200k. Or prpoperty tax on our tiny house is 3500 per year. We also have a sales tax and a state income tax too.

The over all cost of livng is less in Nebraska. My brother who is militrary went from NE to Co and finds the over cost of living to be less in NE. They may even move back to NE when he is done.

[kosnebbear]

I have been reading most of the post made by MattDen and I have been wondering where does MattDen come from? He has some strange ideas about Nebraska, but guess that he has a right about his ideas.

[ehenningsen]

what is the average cost of a home in denver?
The average cost per home with taxes is way lower here than just about anywhere in the nation, and keep in mind that in Nebraska the average wage is thousands higher than the average.... The taxes have to be higher due to the cost of living being so low..

[MattDen]

Wage per job 2005:
Average Wage Nebraska 32,583
Average Wage United States 40,146
Omaha CSA 36,307
Lincoln EA 31,312
Denver 49,432

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis from 2005

Omaha median housing mortgaged units:
Douglas County, Nebraska 1,253/mo
Denver County, Colorado 1,421/mo
(Its evident the property taxes add up ALOT!)

According to the Census Bureau 2005 American Community Housing survey


Denver, Colorado median housing mortgage cost: 168 times 12= $2016 more/year

Denver wage opposed to Omaha CSA wage = 13,125 more/year

Thats not unusual either...
Durham County, North Carolina monthly housing costs mortgaged units 1,294/mo (41 dollars a month/492 dollars a year more then Omaha)

Durham County, North California average wage per job: 51,507 (15,200 dollars more then Omaha CSA per year)

Difference: 14,708 dollars

[rya700]

High property taxes are the only way they can get money for their schools, governments, roads, ect. in their stagnant economy....well, i take that back, it is not the only way. They also like to set speed traps and give out outrageously high fines to out of staters.

I know from personal experience.

[ehenningsen]

Originally Posted by MattDen

Wage per job 2005:
Average Wage Nebraska 32,583
Average Wage United States 40,146
Omaha CSA 36,307
Lincoln EA 31,312
Denver 49,432

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis from 2005

Omaha median housing mortgaged units:
Douglas County, Nebraska 1,253/mo
Denver County, Colorado 1,421/mo
(Its evident the property taxes add up ALOT!)

According to the Census Bureau 2005 American Community Housing survey


Denver, Colorado median housing mortgage cost: 168 times 12= $2016 more/year

Denver wage opposed to Omaha CSA wage = 13,125 more/year

Thats not unusual either...
Durham County, North Carolina monthly housing costs mortgaged units 1,294/mo (41 dollars a month/492 dollars a year more then Omaha)

Durham County, North California average wage per job: 51,507 (15,200 dollars more then Omaha CSA per year)

Difference: 14,708 dollars

Link please!! Our economy is a booming economy!! I can provide links stating hte omaha msa makes 3,000 over the average us per capita!!

[debct]

Originally Posted by MattDen

Wage per job 2005:
Average Wage Nebraska 32,583
Average Wage United States 40,146
Omaha CSA 36,307
Lincoln EA 31,312
Denver 49,432

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis from 2005

Omaha median housing mortgaged units:
Douglas County, Nebraska 1,253/mo
Denver County, Colorado 1,421/mo
(Its evident the property taxes add up ALOT!)

According to the Census Bureau 2005 American Community Housing survey


Denver, Colorado median housing mortgage cost: 168 times 12= $2016 more/year

Denver wage opposed to Omaha CSA wage = 13,125 more/year

Thats not unusual either...
Durham County, North Carolina monthly housing costs mortgaged units 1,294/mo (41 dollars a month/492 dollars a year more then Omaha)

Durham County, North California average wage per job: 51,507 (15,200 dollars more then Omaha CSA per year)

Difference: 14,708 dollars

I find this hard to belive. When my brother moved outt o the Denver area, the houses cost more, than NE. Still I do not see that the taxes in NE are that high. Comming form where I am it still seems low.

[MattDen]

I know Omaha had a "booming economy" in the early 1990's, but like Detroit those days are long gone. I guess after looking at the numbers the good thing about Omaha's job growth is at least about equal to the population growth. Omaha job growth between December 2005-2006 was 1.4 percent according to the Bureau of Labor statistics. 1.4% is decent, but hardly a booming economy. However, I am sure those sitting in Omaha corperate board rooms consider it a booming economy, but they are obviously not stepping up on the hiring process as those job numbers indicate.

Omaha area ranks very high on dividens per-capita but that mainly goes to all the old money that sits on corperate boards in Omaha. So that is more then likely what causes per-capita income to be higher then the national average as you said earlier.

For the average Joe=wage per job, The average wage is that 36,000 dollars per job in the Omaha CSA as opposed to 40,000 dollars which is the national average.

Link to the per job wage numbers: www.bea.gov/bea/regional/reis/
go to: local area personal income
then: select ca-34 (average wage per job for 2005)