LINCOLN- Southeast Community College is moving forward with a proposal to raise its tax levy, but several senators are saying it’s not fair to Nebraskans. Sen. Robert Dover and 23 other senators sent a letter to the SCC board of governors, asking it to reconsider. The proposal would raise rates to the maximum allowed under state law.

Right now, the levy rate is 9.37 cents per $100 valuation. SCC would raise it to 11.25 cents if the budget is approved. “This will establish a baseline for our future needs,” SCC President Paul Illich said in a statement. “Budgeting a lesser amount would require an increase in tuition, possibly significant, and a decrease in a variety of educational programs. We have one chance to get this right.”

But the senators said this is going to be especially difficult for taxpayers because property valuations have spiked this year. If approved, the owner of a $250,000 home in Lincoln would pay around $45 more per year. For now, the increase would only affect the residents in 15-county SCC’s area. But in 2025, all Nebraskans will be paying for it.

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