The Sarpy County Board is petitioning Nebraska's Tax Equalization and Review Commission to get Douglas County to raise its median property valuation to 96 percent of market value.
Currently, Douglas County is at 93 percent and Sarpy County is at 96. State law requires a county's median property valuation to be between 92 and 100 percent of market value.
The Board is petitioning because the state's valuation statutes are too broad and leads to people in Omaha, Millard and Gretna school districts paying differing amounts in property taxes.
The legality of the move, however, is being questioned. State Property Tax Administrator Ruth Sorenson told the Omaha World-Herald she had never seen a county attempt to raise valuations in another county in her 10 years on the job.
If the unprecedented measure by Sarpy County is successful, Douglas County property owners could see thousands tacked on to their valuations.
The Commission is having a hearing Friday to determine whether or not Sarpy County can petition to raise valuations in Douglas County.
