(A) Property tax levies for the support of the city for fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 1998, shall be limited to the amounts set forth in this division (A), except as provided in division (C). The city may levy a maximum levy of $0.45 per $100 of taxable valuation of property subject to the levy plus an additional $0.05 per $100 of taxable valuation to provide financing for the city's share of revenue required under an agreement or agreements executed pursuant to the Interlocal Cooperation Act or the Joint Public Agency Act. The maximum levy shall include amounts levied to pay for sums to support a library pursuant to Neb. RS 51-201, museum pursuant to Neb. RS 51-501, visiting community nurse, home health nurse, or home health agency pursuant to Neb. RS 71-1637, or statue, memorial, or monument pursuant to Neb. RS 80-202. Property tax levies for judgments, except judgments or orders from the Commission of Industrial Relations, obtained against the city which require or obligate the city to pay that judgment, to the extent the judgment is not paid by liability insurance coverage of the city, for preexisting lease-purchase contracts approved prior to July 1, 1998, for bonded indebtedness approved according to law and secured by a levy on property, and for payments by a public airport to retire interest-free loans from the Division of Aeronautics in lieu of bonded indebtedness at a lower cost to the public airport are not included in the levy limits established by this division (A). The limitations on tax levies provided in this division (A) are to include all other general or special levies provided by law. Notwithstanding other provisions of law, the only exceptions to the limits in this division (A) are those provided by or authorized by this section. Tax levies in excess of the limitations in this section shall be considered unauthorized levies under Neb. RS 77-1606 unless approved under division (C).
(B) (1) All city airport authorities established under the Cities Airport Authorities Act, community redevelopment authorities established under the Community Development Law, and off-street parking districts established under the Offstreet Parking District Act may be allocated property taxes as authorized by law which are authorized by the city and are counted in the municipal levy limit provided by division (A), except that such limitation shall not apply to property tax levies for preexisting lease-purchase contracts approved prior to July 1, 1998, for bonded indebtedness approved according to law and secured by a levy on property, and for payments by a public airport to retire interest-free loans from the Division of Aeronautics in lieu of bonded indebtedness at a lower cost to the public airport. For off-street parking districts established under the Offstreet Parking District Act, the tax shall be counted in the allocation by the city proportionately, by dividing the total taxable valuation of the taxable property within the district by the total taxable valuation of the taxable property within the city multiplied by the levy of the district. The City Council shall review and approve or disapprove the levy request of the political subdivisions subject to this division (B). The City Council may approve all or a portion of the levy request and may approve a levy request that would allow a levy greater than that permitted by law. The levy allocated by the city may be exceeded as provided in division (C).
(2) On or before August 1, all political subdivisions subject to city levy authority under this division (B) shall submit a preliminary request for levy allocation to the City Council. The preliminary request of the political subdivision shall be in the form of a resolution adopted by a majority vote of members present of the political subdivision's governing body. The failure of a political subdivision to make a preliminary request shall preclude that political subdivision from using procedures set forth in Neb. RS 77-3444 to exceed the final levy allocation as determined in this division (B).
(3) (a) The City Council shall:
1. Adopt a resolution by a majority vote of members present which determines a final allocation of levy authority to its political subdivisions; and
2. Forward a copy of that resolution to the chairperson of the governing body of each of its political subdivisions.
(b) No final levy allocation shall be changed after September 1 except by agreement between both the City Council and the governing body of the political subdivision whose final levy allocation is at issue.
(C) (1) The city may exceed the limits provided in division (A) by an amount not to exceed a maximum levy approved by a majority of registered voters voting on the issue in a primary, general, or special election at which the issue is placed before the registered voters. A vote to exceed the limits must be approved prior to October 10 of the fiscal year which is to be the first to exceed the limits.
(2) The City Council may call for the submission of the issue to the voters:
(a) By passing a resolution calling for exceeding the limits by a vote of at least 2/3 of the members of the City Council and delivering a copy of the resolution to the County Clerk or Election Commissioner of every county which contains all or part of the city; or
(b) Upon receipt of a petition by the County Clerk or Election Commissioner of every county containing all or part of the city requesting an election signed by at least 5% of the registered voters residing in the city.
(3) The resolution or petition shall include the amount of levy which would be imposed in excess of the limits provided in division (A) and the duration of the excess levy authority. The excess levy authority shall not have a duration greater than five years. Any resolution or petition calling for a special election shall be filed with the County Clerk or Election Commissioner on or before the fifth Friday prior to the election, and the time of publication and providing a copy of the notice of election required in Neb. RS 32-802 shall be no later than 20 days prior to the election.
(4) The County Clerk or Election Commissioner shall place the issue on the ballot at an election as called for in the resolution or petition which is at least 31 days after receipt of the resolution or petition. The election shall be held pursuant to the Election Act. For petitions filed with the County Clerk or Election Commissioner on or after May 1, 1998, the petition shall be in the form as provided in Neb. RS 32-628 through 32-631.
(5) Any excess levy authority approved under this division (C) shall terminate pursuant to its terms, on a vote of the City Council to terminate the authority to levy more than the limits, at the end of the fourth fiscal year following the first year in which the levy exceeded the limit, or as provided in division (C)(8), whichever is earliest.
(6) The City Council may pass no more than one resolution calling for an election pursuant to this division (C) during any one calendar year. Only one election may be held in any one calendar year pursuant to a petition initiated under this division (C). The ballot question may include any terms and conditions set forth in the resolution or petition and shall include the language specified in Neb. RS 77-3444.
(7) If a majority of the votes cast upon the ballot question are in favor of the tax, the county board shall authorize a tax in excess of the limits in division (A), but the tax shall not exceed the amount stated in the ballot question. If a majority of those voting on the ballot question are opposed to the tax, the City Council shall not impose the tax.
(8) (a) The city may rescind or modify a previously approved excess levy authority prior to its expiration by a majority of registered voters voting on the issue in a primary, general, or special election at which the issue is placed before the registered voters. A vote to rescind or modify must be approved prior to October 10 of the fiscal year for which it is to be effective.
(b) The City Council may call for the submission of the issue to the voters:
1. By passing a resolution calling for the rescission or modification by a vote of at least 2/3 of the members of the City Council and delivering a copy of the resolution to the County Clerk or Election Commissioner of every county which contains all or part of the city; or
2. Upon receipt of a petition by the County Clerk or Election Commissioner of every county containing all or part of the city requesting an election signed by at least 5% of the registered voters residing in the city.
(c) The resolution or petition shall include the amount and the duration of the previously approved excess levy authority and a statement that either the excess levy authority will be rescinded or the excess levy authority will be modified. If the excess levy authority will be modified, the amount and duration of the modification shall be stated. The modification shall not have a duration greater than five years. The County Clerk or Election Commissioner shall place the issue on the ballot at an election as called for in the resolution or petition which is at least 31 days after receipt of the resolution or petition, and the time of publication and providing a copy of the notice of election required in Neb. RS 32-802 shall be no later than 20 days prior to the election. The election shall be held pursuant to the Election Act.
(Ord. 1641, passed 7-23-98; Am. Ord. 1862, passed 1-8-04; Am. Ord. 2423, passed 2-28-23)
Statutory reference:
Similar provisions, see Neb. RS 77-3442 through 77-3444