GRAND ISLAND, Nebraska –  The Central Platte Natural Resources District will hold a public hearing at 1:45 p.m. on Sept. 1, 2022, to hear public comments on the proposed fiscal 2022/2023 levy. General ManagerLyndon Vogt said with the total requirements for the general fund and sinking fund at $28,448,376.11, the required property tax is $4,395,462.13 - an increase of $411,839.44 from 2022.

The counties within the Central Platte NRD include all of Dawson and parts of Custer, Buffalo, Hall, Howard, Nance, Merrick, Hamilton, Platte, Polk and Frontier. Vogt said with the expected increase of 3.5% in the District's total valuation, the proposed FY 2022/2023 levy is 0.023662 compared to last year's levy of 0.022196.

With this levy, property owners with properties valued at $100,000 would pay a total of $23.66 in property taxes next year to support conservation benefits provided by the Central Platte NRD including flood reduction, water quality management, water use management, soil health, cost-share for producers for conservation practices, forestry, land management, recreation and education.

Central Platte NRD’s Board of Directors will meet at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022, at the CPNRD office located at 215 Kaufman Avenue in Grand Island, NE. The meeting is being held a week late to accommodate advertising requirements since valuations are not available from the counties until Aug. 20.

AGENDA/ACTION ITEMS

-Long Range Implementation Plan   Marcia Lee, Information/Education Specialist, will present the proposed 2022-2027 Long Range Implementation Plan. The Plan summarizes district activities including projections of financial, manpower and land right needs of the district for the next five years that is required to be updated annually under the Nebraska Natural Resources District Act.  The board will review the updates and consider action on the Plan at the September board meeting.

-Natural Resources Conservation Service  Joe Krolikowski, District Conservationist will report.

-Nebraska Natural Resources Commission  Mick Reynolds, Middle Platte Basin Representative, will report.

-Voting Delegate  The Board will elect a voting delegate and alternate for the Nebraska Association of Resources District’s annual conference to be held in Kearney, NE in September.

-Cost-Share  Applications through the Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation and the Central Platte NRD cost-share programs will be considered.