FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:   FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

   June 21, 2007     Mike Goodwillie           Legal Counsel (402) 471-5763

       Cheryl Pedersen           Keith County Assessment Manager 

(308) 284-8045 

The Nebraska Department of Property Assessment and Taxation announced today that due to technical problems the 2007 valuation notices for Keith County were mailed after the statutory due date June 1, 2007.

Under Nebraska law, whenever there has been a change in the assessed valuation from the previous year, a written notice of the valuation change must be sent on or before June 1 and the property owner may protest the value of the property by June 30. However, when valuation notices are not sent on time, such valuation changes become voidable and the valuation for the property is required to revert back to the prior year’s value, in this case, 2006. 

Since the prior year’s values do not accurately reflect the correct valuations for 2007, these properties may be considered to be overvalued or undervalued.   Under Nebraska law, a county board of equalization may adjust valuations of overvalued and undervalued properties between June 1 and July 25.    The county board of equalization in Keith County has voted to change the values of affected properties to the amount determined by the assessment office and have mailed a second Notice of Valuation Change to all affected property owners.  

Property owners receiving the county board of equalization Notice of Valuation Change have 30 days from the postmark date of the notice to protest their 2007 valuations.   Protests may be filed with the county clerk.   Any protest of valuation already filed by property owners based on the local assessment office’s notices will be accepted and heard by the county board.  There is no need to file a second protest.   

Keith County Assessment Office web site: http://Keith.pat.gisworkshop.com

APPROVED:

      Cheryl Pedersen

      Keith County Assessment Manager