Pierce County Farm Bureau playskey role in school bond debate

When the Pierce County School District proposed a $25.9 million bond issue this summer, members of the community had many questions. Without taking a “for” or “against” position on the school bond, Pierce County Farm Bureau went to work to make sure voters had the facts before heading to the polls. The bond, which went to a special election on Aug. 12, would have funded renovations to school buildings, technology upgrades, security improvements and new construction.

While few questioned the value of investing in education, the cost raised big concerns, especially for farmers and ranchers who shoulder a large share of the property tax burden. Because school bonds are paid through property taxes, higher land valuations directly translate to higher tax bills for residential and agricultural landowners.

“We believe our community deserves transparency,” said Mike Kroupa, Pierce County Farm Bureau board member. “Its important people understand how decisions like this will affect their tax bill, especially for farm and ranch families who already carry a large share of the tax load. Because of our Farm Bureau connection, we were able to work with our Regional manager, Jason Kvols, and ultimately tap into support from the state office to gather the information our community needed.”

To get the word out, Pierce County Farm Bureau members submitted letters to the editor in the local paper, engaged in online discussions and organized a public informational meeting on July 18. More than 100 people turned out to hear Nebraska Farm Bureau economist Abygail Streff walk through the real costs of the proposed school bond for local taxpayers.

The numbers were eye-opening. For the average producer in Pierce County with 476 acres of irrigated land, the bond would have cost an estimated $3,769 in the first year alone. With rising land valuations, the annual cost was projected to nearly double over the 25-year life of the bond, adding up to a total of more than $139,000. A dryland farmer with the same acreage would have faced a total cost of about $81,000.

These estimates used Nebraska Department of Revenue’s 10-year average valuation increase of 3.09% for Pierce County. They also factored in state law, which requires agricultural land to be taxed at 50% of its actual value for school bonds.

With those figures in hand, voters made their voices heard. The bond was soundly defeated, with 1,114 voting against and 707 voting in favor.

“Pierce County Farm Bureau understands the critical importance of education for our kids,” Kroupa said. “This vote shows the importance of continuing discussions about school funding and making sure tax dollars are used wisely.”

The effort in Pierce County is a strong example of how local Farm Bureaus can make a difference by engaging on issues that matter most to their communities. By providing clear, accurate information and encouraging neighbors to get involved, Farm Bureau members helped ensure voters could make an informed decision at the ballot box.