Nebraska Property Assessment Division releases report on Cherry County Assessor's Office compliance

CHERRY COUNTY, Neb. -- The Nebraska Department of Revenue's Property Assessment Division has released its initial report, dated February 5, 2024, highlighting compliance issues within the Cherry County Assessor's Office.

The report identified significant deviations from statutory assessment deadlines. Specific concerns included delayed entry of personal property data into the CAMA system, late submission of homestead applications, and failure to assess all real property as of January 1, as required by law.

According to the report, "while requesting an extension is allowed by statute, the request seemingly foreshadowed a pattern of noncompliance with statutory assessment deadlines, as detailed above, and a disregard for the severity of her nonconformity and its potential consequences for the taxpayers of Cherry County."

The report outlined recommendations, which include placing Assessor Jackie Moreland on probation as well as educational and corrective measures for compliance.

The assessor was given 30 days upon receiving the report to submit a plan addressing the deficiencies. The report underscored the importance of adhering to statutory deadlines to maintain property assessment integrity.