Property owners who sustained damage during the June 14 storm or any other time between Jan. 1 and July 1 of this year may have their property valuation reassessed.
“The Nebraska Legislature passed a bill that became effective Jan. 1, 2014, for property owners that have significant damage due to a calamity,” Seward County Assessor Marilyn Hladky said.
Property owners with damage may file Form 425: Report of Destroyed Real Property, available online or through the county assessor’s office.
Reports must be filed by July 15.
The form must be filed in both the county assessor’s and the county clerk’s offices.
“The filing is in both as the clerk is the secretary to the commissioners and it would have to be put on their agenda for action,” Hladky said. “I need it to know about it, inspect and then make a determination if the value changes.”
Calamity means a disastrous event, including but not limited to, a fire, earthquake, flood, tornado or other natural event which significantly affects the assessed value of the property.
Significant property damage means:
1. Damage to an improvement exceeding 20% of the improvement’s assessed value in the current tax year as determined by the county assessor;
2. Damage to the land exceeding 20% of a parcel’s assessed land value in the current tax year as determined by the county assessor; or
3. Damage exceeding 20% of the property’s assessed value in the current tax year as determined by the county assessor if:
a. Such property is located in an area that has been declared a disaster area by the governor; and
b. A housing inspector or health inspector has determined the property is uninhabitable or unlivable.
The county board of equalization will consider the report to determine any adjustments to the assessed value for the current year.
The county board of equalization must act upon this report on or after June 1 and on or before July 25, or on or before Aug. 10 if the board has adopted a resolution to extend the deadline to hear protests.
It must send a notice of the reassessment value for destroyed real property to the owner.
For questions, call the assessor’s office at (402) 643-3311.
