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Nebraska closed out its fiscal year on a record high note, with net tax revenues nearing $6.35 billion, according to a new state report.
There’s only one thing wrong with the tax information on about 230,000 postcards that Douglas County sent this week to property owners — but it’s a big thing.
The information is about somebody else’s property.
A printing company made the mistake that is leaving people all over Omaha feeling dazed and confused. They were calling Douglas County administration and Clerk’s Office nonstop Friday.
Now the printer and county officials are scrambling to get new, corrected postcards in the mail. The Douglas County Clerk’s Office created an online worksheet Friday for people who want to try to figure it out themselves sooner.
The green postcards, emblazoned with “NOTICE OF PROPOSED TAX INCREASE,” went out Wednesday to people in Omaha and the rest of Douglas County. Counties across the Nebraska are required by a new state law to send them out.
The cards must detail how the proposed budgets of major local taxing entities, such as cities and school districts, could affect the specific owner’s pocketbook in the coming year. The notices also inform people of public hearings, new this year, that are designed to give people more information about the proposed budgets and an extra opportunity to have their say about property taxes.
The information on the postcards about the hearing in Douglas County is correct. It is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. Wednesday in the legislative chamber on the second floor of the Omaha-Douglas Civic Center, 1819 Farnam St.
“The (meeting) notice is correct,” said Patrick Bloomingdale, Douglas County’s chief administrative officer. But “when you look at your own information, that’s all for somebody else’s property.”
It might be somebody’s house down the street, or somebody’s real estate across town, he said. The card might say you own a house in Elkhorn, even though your home is on 50th Street in central Omaha.
“We’re hurrying to get new cards out by Monday so they’ll get out to people’s houses by Wednesday,” Bloomingdale said.
The error was made by the printer, FAC Print & Promo Co. of La Vista. A test run looked good, but when the actual cards were printed, they were wrong. The county, which paid $84,000 for the cards, won’t have to pay anything for the corrected mailers.
Matthew Tarr, president and owner of FAC, said the error was caused by a computer glitch and was not caught before the cards were printed and sent.
“It’s very unfortunate,” he said. “We’re embarrassed it happened. We’re fixing it.”
Meanwhile, Douglas County Clerk Dan Esch said people with internet access can use the Douglas County Joint Public Hearing/Postcard Information link on his office’s website to research their own property before the new postcards arrive.
Michael LaCroix was frustrated and mystified by the card that came to his home, near Omaha’s Memorial Park.
The card listed his assessed value for tax year 2021, and his assessed value for 2022. Both were way off.
“How can they get these numbers so wrong?” LaCroix wondered.
He didn’t even notice initially that the card also listed a real estate parcel number, address and a legal description that aren’t his, along with the name of a corporation under the heading “taxpayer information.” When it sunk in that it was somebody else’s property information, LaCroix said, “What a mess. They’re trying to do the right thing and follow the letter of the law, and then have this mess.”
A giant American flag hanging between two ladders from Omaha firetrucks is reflected in the sunglasses of Omaha firefighter Bruno Caro during POW/MIA Day at Memorial Park on Friday.
Dr Rudi Mitchell, left, and Pam WhiteBear participate in a wreath-laying ceremony during POW/MIA Day at Memorial Park on Friday.
Jim Meier, bottom, watches as Heritage Nursery plants trees at Memorial Park on Friday.
Nebraska's Casey Thompson looks for an open receiver before being sacked by Georgia Southern's Anthony Wilson, right, in the second quarter at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
Season ticket holders Laura Buchman, left, and her husband Ed Duncklee wait on the start of the Nebraska and Georgia Southern outside of Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
Nebraska Athletic Director Trev Alberts answers questions about the firing of Head Coach Scott Frost on Sunday.
Nebraska's Marques Buford Jr. (1) makes a catch fo an interception in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.
Georgia Southern's Gerald Green (4) rushes in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.
Aurora's Carlos Collazo (2) escapes a tackle by Ashland-Greenwood's Drake Zimmerman (11) during the game on Friday.
Omaha Gross' fans celebrate a touchdown during the game against Elkhorn on Thursday.
Nebraska's Nate Boerkircher scores a touchdown early in the third quarter against North Dakota on Saturday.
Doug Larson holds the certificate and flag he was given after he graduated from Veterans Treatment Court at the City-County Building on Thursday.
Creighton, left, celebrates wining the third set over Nebraska at CHI Health Center on Wednesday.
Nebraska's Bekka Allick prepares to hit the ball at Creighton's Kendra Wait, top right, and Kiana Schmitt, bottom right, in the second set at CHI Health Center on Wednesday.
A record crowd of 15,797 watch Nebraska take on Creighton at CHI Health Center on Wednesday.
Creighton's Ellie Bolton (from left), Norah Sis, and Sky McCune watch the pregame video before their game against Nebraska at CHI Health Center on Wednesday.
Creighton's Kendra Wait celebrates a point during their game against Nebraska at CHI Health Center on Wednesday.
Creighton's Sky McCune bumps the ball during their game against Nebraska at CHI Health Center on Wednesday.
Nebraska's Bekka Allick (left) tries to block Creighton's Kendra Wait during their game at CHI Health Center on Wednesday.
Nebraska’s Whitney Lauenstein (left) and Nicklin Hames celebrate a kill during their game against Creighton at CHI Health Center on Wednesday.
Nebraska players run onto the field before their game against North Dakota at Memorial Field on Saturday.
Nebraska’s Anthony Grant tries to escape North Dakota’s defense during the 2nd half of their game at Memorial Field on Saturday.
Nebraska’s Trey Palmer celebrates after catching a 31-yard pass during the 2nd half of their game against North Dakota at Memorial Field on Saturday.
Nebraska’s Marques Buford Jr. tries to bring down North Dakota’s Isaiah Smith during the 2nd half of their game at Memorial Field on Saturday.
Nebraska's Casey Thompson (11) looks up at the replay after being sacked for the second time in the first quarter of the North Dakota vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.
Nebraska's Anthony Grant fist bumps Walt (right) and Gus Rasmussen after scoring a touchdown during a game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Saturday.
Amanda Fink wears Husker themed cowboy books she purchased in Nashville before a game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Saturday.
Creighton’s Kendra Wait (left) and Kiana Schmitt try to block the ball during their game against USC at Sokol Arena on Friday.
Creighton’s Kiara Reinhardt (center) and her teammates celebrate a point during their game against USC at Sokol Arena on Friday.
Elkhorn South's Cole Ballard (5) rushes with Millard South's Bryson Zimmerman (51) on his tail in the Millard South vs. Elkhorn South football game at Elkhorn High School in Omaha on Friday.
Creighton’s Keeley Davis celebrates after scoring a point during their game against USC at Sokol Arena on Friday.
chris.burbach@owh.com, 402-444-1057, twitter.com/CHRISBURBACH
Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
Chris Burbach covers the Douglas County Board, Planning Board and other local government bodies, as well as local neighborhood issues. Follow him on Twitter @chrisburbach. Phone: 402-444-1057.
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