7.02.03

Board recommends tax rate for fire protection

At their July 2 board meeting, the Metropolitan Utilities District (M.U.D.) Board of Directors recommended the Douglas County Board set a fire protection levy sufficient to produce $1.778 million in property tax receipts for the 2003-2004 tax year.

During the past 10 years, the District's hydrant tax levy has decreased more than 33 percent while costs to maintain the hydrants have increased more than 19 percent.

The current fire protection property tax on a house valued at $150,000 home is $11.12.

If the $1.778 million request is granted, the tax on a $150,000 home would decrease to $11, based on preliminary Douglas County valuations and an overall increase in Sarpy County property values of 5 percent.

M.U.D., a customer-owned utility, provides water and facilities needed for public fire protection in Omaha and portions of Douglas and Sarpy Counties. Revenue is used for pumps, reservoirs, mains and maintenance of more than 23,100 fire hydrants. The District serves more than 176,000 water customers in the Omaha metro area.

The Board held a public hearing on the fire protection tax June 27, 2003.

Tax Rate History

Year	Tax rate in cents	Tax on a $70,000 home	Tax on a $150,000 home
1994-95	1.097	7.68	16.46
1995-96	1.065	7.46	15.98
1996-97	0.987	6.91	14.81
1997-98	0.949	6.64	14.24
1998-99	0.894	6.26	13.41
1999-00	0.876	6.13	13.14
2000-01	0.768	5.38	11.52
2001-02	0.746	5.22	11.19
2002-03	0.741	5.19	11.12
2003-04 estimate	0.733	5.13*	11.00*

*Based on preliminary Douglas County valuations and an overall increase in Sarpy County property values of 5 percent.

2003 news

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