For purposes of Chapter 77 and any statutes dealing with taxation, unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions found in sections 77-102 to 77-132 shall be used.

The word property includes every kind of property, tangible or intangible, subject to ownership.

Real property shall mean:

(1) All land;

(2) All buildings, improvements, and fixtures, except trade fixtures;

(3) Mobile homes, cabin trailers, and similar property, not registered for highway use, which are used, or designed to be used, for residential, office, commercial, agricultural, or other similar purposes, but not including mobile homes, cabin trailers, and similar property when unoccupied and held for sale by persons engaged in the business of selling such property when such property is at the location of the business;

(4) Mines, minerals, quarries, mineral springs and wells, oil and gas wells, overriding royalty interests, and production payments with respect to oil or gas leases; and

(5) All privileges pertaining to real property described in subdivisions (1) through (4) of this section.

Class or subclass of real property means a group of properties that share one or more characteristics typically common to all the properties in the class or subclass, but are not typically found in the properties outside the class or subclass. Class or subclass includes, but is not limited to, the classifications of agricultural land or horticultural land listed in section 77-1363, parcel use, parcel type, location, geographic characteristics, zoning, city size, parcel size, and market characteristics appropriate for the valuation of such land. A class or subclass based on market characteristics shall be based on characteristics that affect the actual value in a different manner than it affects the actual value of properties not within the market characteristic class or subclass.

The term personal property includes all property other than real property and franchises.

The term tangible personal property includes all personal property possessing a physical existence, excluding money. The term tangible personal property also includes trade fixtures, which means machinery and equipment, regardless of the degree of attachment to real property, used directly in commercial, manufacturing, or processing activities conducted on real property, regardless of whether the real property is owned or leased, and all depreciable tangible personal property described in subsection (9) of section 77-202 used in the generation of electricity using wind as the fuel source. The term intangible personal property includes all other personal property, including money.

The term money includes all kinds of coin and all kinds of paper, issued by or under authority of the United States, circulating as money.

The word credits includes corporation shares of stock, accounts, contracts for cash or labor, bills of exchange, judgments, choses in action, liens of any kind, other than real estate mortgages, securities, debentures, bonds, other than those of the United States, annuities, and all other demands for labor or other valuable thing, whether due or to become due.

The term county board includes both county commissioners and supervisors, as the case may be.

The term county tax includes all taxes due to the county, school districts and other subdivisions of the county, which are levied and collected by the county.

The words township and precinct shall each include the other, and shall also include towns in counties under township organization.

Actual value of real property for purposes of taxation means the market value of real property in the ordinary course of trade. Actual value may be determined using professionally accepted mass appraisal methods, including, but not limited to, the (1) sales comparison approach using the guidelines in section 77-1371, (2) income approach, and (3) cost approach. Actual value is the most probable price expressed in terms of money that a property will bring if exposed for sale in the open market, or in an arm's length transaction, between a willing buyer and willing seller, both of whom are knowledgeable concerning all the uses to which the real property is adapted and for which the real property is capable of being used. In analyzing the uses and restrictions applicable to real property, the analysis shall include a consideration of the full description of the physical characteristics of the real property and an identification of the property rights being valued.

The word person includes any number of persons and any partnership, limited liability company, association, joint-stock company, corporation, or other entity that may be the owner of property.

The words used in the singular shall include the plural; and in the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders, and vice versa, as the case may require.

County assessor includes an elected or appointed county assessor or a county clerk who is an ex officio county assessor. In counties in which the state has assumed the assessment function, the Property Tax Administrator or his or her designee performs the duties and has the authority of the county assessor.

The term county official shall include any county officer or employee of a county officer who is charged with the duty of valuing, assessing, or equalizing property for property tax purposes.

Improvements on leased land shall mean any item of real property defined in subdivisions (2) through (4) of section 77-103 which is located on land owned by a person other than the owner of the item.

Nebraska adjusted basis shall mean the adjusted basis of property as determined under the Internal Revenue Code increased by the total amount allowed under the code for depreciation or amortization or pursuant to an election to expense depreciable property under section 179 of the code.

Depreciable tangible personal property shall mean tangible personal property which is used in a trade or business or used for the production of income and which has a determinable life of longer than one year.

(1) Net book value of property for taxation shall mean that portion of the Nebraska adjusted basis of the property as of the assessment date for the applicable recovery period in the table set forth in this subsection.

NET BOOK VALUE AS A PERCENT
OF NEBRASKA ADJUSTED BASIS
Year	Recovery Period (in years)
	3	5	7	10	15	20
1	75.00	85.00	89.29	92.50	95.00	96.25
2	37.50	59.50	70.16	78.62	85.50	89.03
3	12.50	41.65	55.13	66.83	76.95	82.35
4	0.00	24.99	42.88	56.81	69.25	76.18
5		8.33	30.63	48.07	62.32	70.46
6		0.00	18.38	39.33	56.09	65.18
7			6.13	30.59	50.19	60.29
8			0.00	21.85	44.29	55.77
9				13.11	38.38	51.31
10				4.37	32.48	46.85
11				0.00	26.57	42.38
12					20.67	37.92
13					14.76	33.46
14					8.86	29.00
15					2.95	24.54
16					0.00	20.08
17						15.62
18						11.15
19						6.69
20						2.23
21						0.00

Net book value as a percent of Nebraska adjusted basis shall be calculated using the one-hundred-fifty-percent declining balance method, switching to straight line, with a one-half-year convention.

(2) The applicable recovery period for any item of property shall be determined as follows:

(a) Three-year property shall include property with a class life of four years or less;

(b) Five-year property shall include property with a class life of more than four years and less than ten years;

(c) Seven-year property shall include property with a class life of ten years or more but less than sixteen years;

(d) Ten-year property shall include property with a class life of sixteen years or more but less than twenty years;

(e) Fifteen-year property shall include property with a class life of twenty years or more but less than twenty-five years; and

(f) Twenty-year property shall include property with a class life of twenty-five years or more.

(3) Class life shall be based upon the anticipated useful life of a class of property and shall be determined by the Property Tax Administrator under the Internal Revenue Code.

(4) One-half-year convention shall be a convention which treats all property placed in service during any tax year as placed in service on the midpoint of such tax year.

(5) The percent shown for year one shall be the percent used for January 1 of the year following the year of acquisition of the property.

Taxable property shall mean any real or tangible personal property subject to tax pursuant to law and not exempt from tax.

Purchase shall include taking by sale, discount, negotiation, or any other transaction for value creating an interest in property except liens. Purchase shall not include transfers for stock or other ownership interests upon creation, dissolution, or any other tax-free reorganization for income tax purposes of any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, or other entity.

Omitted property means, for the current tax year, (1) any taxable real property that was not assessed on March 19, except beginning January 1, 2014, in any county with a population of at least one hundred fifty thousand inhabitants according to the most recent federal decennial census, any taxable real property that was not assessed on March 25, and (2) any taxable tangible personal property that was not assessed on May 1. Omitted property also means any taxable real or tangible personal property that was not assessed for any prior tax year. Omitted property does not include property exempt under subdivisions (1)(a) through (d) of section 77-202, listing errors of an item of property on the assessment roll of the county assessor, or clerical errors as defined in section 77-128.

Undervalued and overvalued property means any taxable real property that is assessed by the county assessor but has a taxable value lower or higher than other taxable property with which it is required to be equalized.

Tax situs means the tax district wherein taxable real property is located or taxable tangible personal property is located for fifty percent or more of the calendar year. Taxable tangible personal property of a business shall be assessed at the location of the business unless the property has acquired tax situs elsewhere.

Assessment means the act of listing the description of all real property and taxable tangible personal property, determining its taxability, determining its taxable value, and placing it on the assessment roll.

Tax district means an area within a county in which all of the taxable property is subject to property taxes at the same consolidated property tax rate.

Clerical error means transposition of numbers, mathematical error, computer malfunction causing programming and printing errors, data entry error, items of real property other than land identified on the wrong parcel, incorrect ownership, or certification of an incorrect valuation to political subdivisions.

Assessment roll means a complete and verified list of all real property and the taxable tangible personal property in a county and the associated assessments as defined in section 77-126. The assessment roll is described in section 77-1303.

Taxing official means any federal, state, or local government officer or employee who is charged with the duty of auditing, assessing, equalizing, levying, computing, and collecting taxes.

Taxable value shall be as described in section 77-201 and shall have the same meaning as assessed value.

Parcel means a contiguous tract of land determined by its boundaries, under the same ownership, and in the same tax district and section. Parcel also means an improvement on leased land. If all or several lots in the same block are owned by the same person and are contained in the same tax district, they may be included in one parcel.

(1) Except as provided in subsections (2) through (4) of this section, all real property in this state, not expressly exempt therefrom, shall be subject to taxation and shall be valued at its actual value.

(2) Agricultural land and horticultural land as defined in section 77-1359 shall constitute a separate and distinct class of property for purposes of property taxation, shall be subject to taxation, unless expressly exempt from taxation, and shall be valued at seventy-five percent of its actual value.

(3) Agricultural land and horticultural land actively devoted to agricultural or horticultural purposes which has value for purposes other than agricultural or horticultural uses and which meets the qualifications for special valuation under section 77-1344 shall constitute a separate and distinct class of property for purposes of property taxation, shall be subject to taxation, and shall be valued for taxation at seventy-five percent of its special value as defined in section 77-1343.

(4) Historically significant real property which meets the qualifications for historic rehabilitation valuation under sections 77-1385 to 77-1394 shall be valued for taxation as provided in such sections.

(5) Tangible personal property, not including motor vehicles registered for operation on the highways of this state, shall constitute a separate and distinct class of property for purposes of property taxation, shall be subject to taxation, unless expressly exempt from taxation, and shall be valued at its net book value. Tangible personal property transferred as a gift or devise or as part of a transaction which is not a purchase shall be subject to taxation based upon the date the property was acquired by the previous owner and at the previous owner's Nebraska adjusted basis. Tangible personal property acquired as replacement property for converted property shall be subject to taxation based upon the date the converted property was acquired and at the Nebraska adjusted basis of the converted property unless insurance proceeds are payable by reason of the conversion. For purposes of this subsection, (a) converted property means tangible personal property which is compulsorily or involuntarily converted as a result of its destruction in whole or in part, theft, seizure, requisition, or condemnation, or the threat or imminence thereof, and no gain or loss is recognized for federal or state income tax purposes by the holder of the property as a result of the conversion and (b) replacement property means tangible personal property acquired within two years after the close of the calendar year in which tangible personal property was converted and which is, except for date of construction or manufacture, substantially the same as the converted property.

(1) The following property shall be exempt from property taxes:

(a) Property of the state and its governmental subdivisions to the extent used or being developed for use by the state or governmental subdivision for a public purpose. For purposes of this subdivision, public purpose means use of the property (i) to provide public services with or without cost to the recipient, including the general operation of government, public education, public safety, transportation, public works, civil and criminal justice, public health and welfare, developments by a public housing authority, parks, culture, recreation, community development, and cemetery purposes, or (ii) to carry out the duties and responsibilities conferred by law with or without consideration. Public purpose does not include leasing of property to a private party unless the lease of the property is at fair market value for a public purpose. Leases of property by a public housing authority to low-income individuals as a place of residence are for the authority's public purpose;

(b) Unleased property of the state or its governmental subdivisions which is not being used or developed for use for a public purpose but upon which a payment in lieu of taxes is paid for public safety, rescue, and emergency services and road or street construction or maintenance services to all governmental units providing such services to the property. Except as provided in Article VIII, section 11, of the Constitution of Nebraska, the payment in lieu of taxes shall be based on the proportionate share of the cost of providing public safety, rescue, or emergency services and road or street construction or maintenance services unless a general policy is adopted by the governing body of the governmental subdivision providing such services which provides for a different method of determining the amount of the payment in lieu of taxes. The governing body may adopt a general policy by ordinance or resolution for determining the amount of payment in lieu of taxes by majority vote after a hearing on the ordinance or resolution. Such ordinance or resolution shall nevertheless result in an equitable contribution for the cost of providing such services to the exempt property;

(c) Property owned by and used exclusively for agricultural and horticultural societies;

(d) Property owned by educational, religious, charitable, or cemetery organizations, or any organization for the exclusive benefit of any such educational, religious, charitable, or cemetery organization, and used exclusively for educational, religious, charitable, or cemetery purposes, when such property is not (i) owned or used for financial gain or profit to either the owner or user, (ii) used for the sale of alcoholic liquors for more than twenty hours per week, or (iii) owned or used by an organization which discriminates in membership or employment based on race, color, or national origin. For purposes of this subdivision, educational organization means (A) an institution operated exclusively for the purpose of offering regular courses with systematic instruction in academic, vocational, or technical subjects or assisting students through services relating to the origination, processing, or guarantying of federally reinsured student loans for higher education or (B) a museum or historical society operated exclusively for the benefit and education of the public. For purposes of this subdivision, charitable organization means an organization operated exclusively for the purpose of the mental, social, or physical benefit of the public or an indefinite number of persons; and

(e) Household goods and personal effects not owned or used for financial gain or profit to either the owner or user.

(2) The increased value of land by reason of shade and ornamental trees planted along the highway shall not be taken into account in the valuation of land.

(3) Tangible personal property which is not depreciable tangible personal property as defined in section 77-119 shall be exempt from property tax.

(4) Motor vehicles required to be registered for operation on the highways of this state shall be exempt from payment of property taxes.

(5) Business and agricultural inventory shall be exempt from the personal property tax. For purposes of this subsection, business inventory includes personal property owned for purposes of leasing or renting such property to others for financial gain only if the personal property is of a type which in the ordinary course of business is leased or rented thirty days or less and may be returned at the option of the lessee or renter at any time and the personal property is of a type which would be considered household goods or personal effects if owned by an individual. All other personal property owned for purposes of leasing or renting such property to others for financial gain shall not be considered business inventory.

(6) Any personal property exempt pursuant to subsection (2) of section 77-4105 or section 77-5209.02 shall be exempt from the personal property tax.

(7) Livestock shall be exempt from the personal property tax.

(8) Any personal property exempt pursuant to the Nebraska Advantage Act shall be exempt from the personal property tax.

(9) Any depreciable tangible personal property used directly in the generation of electricity using wind as the fuel source shall be exempt from the property tax levied on depreciable tangible personal property. Depreciable tangible personal property used directly in the generation of electricity using wind as the fuel source includes, but is not limited to, wind turbines, rotors and blades, towers, trackers, generating equipment, transmission components, substations, supporting structures or racks, inverters, and other system components such as wiring, control systems, switchgears, and generator step-up transformers.

(1) Any organization or society seeking a tax exemption provided in subdivisions (1)(c) and (d) of section 77-202 for any real or tangible personal property, except real property used for cemetery purposes, shall apply for exemption to the county assessor on or before December 31 of the year preceding the year for which the exemption is sought on forms prescribed by the Tax Commissioner. The county assessor shall examine the application and recommend either taxable or exempt for the real property or tangible personal property to the county board of equalization on or before February 1 following. Notice that a list of the applications from organizations seeking tax exemption, descriptions of the property, and recommendations of the county assessor are available in the county assessor's office shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county at least ten days prior to consideration of any application by the county board of equalization.

(2) Any organization or society which fails to file an exemption application on or before December 31 may apply on or before June 30 to the county assessor. The organization or society shall also file in writing a request with the county board of equalization for a waiver so that the county assessor may consider the application for exemption. The county board of equalization shall grant the waiver upon a finding that good cause exists for the failure to make application on or before December 31. When the waiver is granted, the county assessor shall examine the application and recommend either taxable or exempt for the real property or tangible personal property to the county board of equalization and shall assess a penalty against the property of ten percent of the tax that would have been assessed had the waiver been denied or one hundred dollars, whichever is less, for each calendar month or fraction thereof for which the filing of the exemption application missed the December 31 deadline. The penalty shall be collected and distributed in the same manner as a tax on the property and interest shall be assessed at the rate specified in section 45-104.01, as such rate may from time to time be adjusted by the Legislature, from the date the tax would have been delinquent until paid. The penalty shall also become a lien in the same manner as a tax pursuant to section 77-203.

The county board of equalization, between February 1 and June 1 after a hearing on ten days' notice to the applicant and the publication of notice as provided in section 77-202.01, and after considering the recommendation of the county assessor and any other information it may obtain from public testimony, shall grant or withhold tax exemption for the real property or tangible personal property on the basis of law and of regulations promulgated by the Tax Commissioner.

For applications accepted after approval of a waiver pursuant to section 77-202.01, the county board of equalization shall hear and certify its decision on or before August 15.

(1) A properly granted exemption of real or tangible personal property, except real property used for cemetery purposes, provided for in subdivisions (1)(c) and (d) of section 77-202 shall continue for a period of four years if the statement of reaffirmation of exemption required by subsection (2) of this section is filed when due. The four-year period shall begin with years evenly divisible by four.

(2) In each intervening year occurring between application years, the organization or society which filed the granted exemption application for the real or tangible personal property, except real property used for cemetery purposes, shall file a statement of reaffirmation of exemption with the county assessor on or before December 31 of the year preceding the year for which the exemption is sought, on forms prescribed by the Tax Commissioner, certifying that the ownership and use of the exempted property has not changed during the year. Any organization or society which misses the December 31 deadline for filing the statement of reaffirmation of exemption may file the statement of reaffirmation of exemption by June 30. Such filing shall maintain the tax-exempt status of the property without further action by the county and regardless of any previous action by the county board of equalization to deny the exemption due to late filing of the statement of reaffirmation of exemption. Upon any such late filing, the county assessor shall assess a penalty against the property of ten percent of the tax that would have been assessed had the statement of reaffirmation of exemption not been filed or one hundred dollars, whichever is less, for each calendar month or fraction thereof for which the filing of the statement of reaffirmation of exemption is late. The penalty shall be collected and distributed in the same manner as a tax on the property and interest shall be assessed at the rate specified in section 45-104.01, as such rate may from time to time be adjusted by the Legislature, from the date the tax would have been delinquent until paid. The penalty shall also become a lien in the same manner as a tax pursuant to section 77-203.

(3)(a) If any organization or society seeks a tax exemption for any real or tangible personal property acquired on or after January 1 of any year or converted to exempt use on or after January 1 of any year, the organization or society shall make application for exemption on or before July 1 of that year as provided in subsection (1) of section 77-202.01. The procedure for reviewing the application shall be as in sections 77-202.01 to 77-202.05, except that the exempt use shall be determined as of the date of application and the review by the county board of equalization shall be completed by August 15.

(b) If an organization as described in subdivision (1)(c) or (d) of section 77-202 purchases, between July 1 and the levy date, property that has been granted tax exemption and the property continues to be qualified for a property tax exemption, the purchaser shall on or before November 15 make application for exemption as provided in section 77-202.01. The procedure for reviewing the application shall be as in sections 77-202.01 to 77-202.05, and the review by the county board of equalization shall be completed by December 15.

(4) In any year, the county assessor or the county board of equalization may cause a review of any exemption to determine whether the exemption is proper. Such a review may be taken even if the ownership or use of the property has not changed from the date of the allowance of the exemption. If it is determined that a change in an exemption is warranted, the procedure for hearing set out in section 77-202.02 shall be followed, except that the published notice shall state that the list provided in the county assessor's office only includes those properties being reviewed. If an exemption is denied, the county board of equalization shall place the property on the tax rolls retroactive to January 1 of that year if on the date of the decision of the county board of equalization the property no longer qualifies for an exemption.

The county board of equalization shall give notice of the assessed value of the real property in the same manner as outlined in section 77-1507, and the procedures for filing a protest shall be the same as those in section 77-1502.

When personal property which was exempt becomes taxable because of lost exemption status, the owner or his or her agent has thirty days after the date of denial to file a personal property return with the county assessor. Upon the expiration of the thirty days for filing a personal property return pursuant to this subsection, the county assessor shall proceed to list and value the personal property and apply the penalty pursuant to section 77-1233.04.

(5) During the month of September of each year, the county board of equalization shall cause to be published in a paper of general circulation in the county a list of all real estate in the county exempt from taxation for that year pursuant to subdivisions (1)(c) and (d) of section 77-202. Such list shall be grouped into categories as provided by the Property Tax Administrator. A copy of the list and proof of publication shall be forwarded to the Property Tax Administrator.

(1) Notice of a county board of equalization's decision granting or denying an application for exemption from taxation for real or tangible personal property shall be mailed or delivered to the applicant and the county assessor by the county clerk within seven days after the date of the board's decision. Persons, corporations, or organizations may appeal denial of an application for exemption by a county board of equalization. Only the county assessor, the Tax Commissioner, or the Property Tax Administrator may appeal the granting of such an exemption by a county board of equalization. Appeals pursuant to this section shall be made to the Tax Equalization and Review Commission in accordance with section 77-5013 within thirty days after the decision of the county board of equalization. The Tax Commissioner or Property Tax Administrator may in his or her discretion intervene in any such appeal pursuant to this section within thirty days after notice by the Tax Equalization and Review Commission that an appeal has been filed pursuant to this section. If the county assessor, Tax Commissioner, or Property Tax Administrator appeals a county board of equalization's final decision granting an exemption from property taxation, the person, corporation, or organization granted such exemption by the county board of equalization shall be made a party to the appeal and shall be issued a notice of the appeal by the Tax Equalization and Review Commission within thirty days after the appeal is filed.

(2) A copy of the final decision by a county board of equalization shall be delivered electronically to the Tax Commissioner and the Property Tax Administrator within seven days after the date of the board's decision. The Tax Commissioner or the Property Tax Administrator shall have thirty days after the final decision to appeal the decision.

(3) Any owner may petition the Tax Equalization and Review Commission in accordance with section 77-5013, on or before December 31 of each year, to determine the taxable status of real property for that year if a failure to give notice as prescribed by this section prevented timely filing of a protest or appeal provided for in sections 77-202 to 77-202.25.

The Tax Commissioner shall prescribe forms for distribution to the county assessors on which persons, corporations, and organizations may apply for tax-exempt status for real or tangible personal property. The forms shall include the following information:

(1) Name of owner or owners of the property, and if a corporation, the names of the officers and directors, and place of incorporation;

(2) Legal description of real property and a general description as to class and use of all tangible personal property; and

(3) The precise statutory provision under which exempt status for such property is claimed.

Any cemetery organization seeking a tax exemption for any real property used to maintain areas set apart for the interment of human dead shall apply for exemption to the county assessor on forms prescribed by the Tax Commissioner. An application for a tax exemption shall be made on or before December 31 of the year preceding the year for which the exemption is sought. The county assessor shall examine the application and recommend either taxable or exempt to the county board of equalization on or before February 1 following. If a cemetery organization seeks a tax exemption for any real or tangible personal property acquired for or converted to exempt use on or after January 1, the organization shall make application for exemption on or before July 1. The procedure for reviewing the application shall be the same as for other exemptions pursuant to subdivisions (1)(c) and (d) of section 77-202. Any cemetery organization which fails to file on or before December 31 for exemption may apply on or before June 30 pursuant to subsection (2) of section 77-202.01, and the penalty and procedures specified in section 77-202.01 shall apply.

Any real property exemption granted to a cemetery organization shall remain in effect without reapplication unless disqualified by change of ownership or use. On or before August 1 the county assessor shall annually make a review of the ownership and use of all cemetery real property and report such review to the county board of equalization.

(1) Leased public property, other than property leased for a public purpose as set forth in subdivision (1)(a) of section 77-202, shall be taxed or exempted from taxation as if the property was owned by the leaseholder. The value of the property shall be determined as provided under section 77-201.

(2) On or before January 31 each year, the state and each governmental subdivision shall provide to the appropriate county assessor each new lease or preexisting lease which has been materially changed which went into effect during the previous year and a listing of previously reported leases that are still in effect.

(3) Taxes on property assessed to the lessee shall be due and payable in the same manner as other property taxes and shall be a first lien upon the personal property of the person to whom assessed until paid and shall be collected in the same manner as personal property taxes as provided in sections 77-1711 to 77-1724. The state or its governmental subdivisions shall not be obligated to pay the taxes upon failure of the lessee to pay. Notice of delinquent taxes shall be timely sent to the lessee and to the state or the governmental subdivision. No lien or attachment shall be attached to the property of the state or the governmental subdivisions for failure of the lessee to pay the taxes due.

(4) The state or any governmental subdivision may, if it chooses to do so in its discretion, provide the appropriate county assessor a description of the property rather than a copy of the lease; request that the assessor notify it of the amount of tax which would be assessed to the leaseholder; voluntarily pay that tax; and collect that tax from the leaseholder as part of the rent.

(5) Except as provided in Article VIII, section 11, of the Constitution of Nebraska, no in lieu of tax payments provided for in any other section of law shall be made with respect to any leased public property to which this section applies.

(1) On or before March 1, the county assessor shall send notice to the state or to any governmental subdivision if it has property not being used for a public purpose upon which a payment in lieu of taxes is not made. Such notice shall inform the state or governmental subdivision that the property will be subject to taxation for property tax purposes. The written notice shall contain the legal description of the property and be given by first-class mail addressed to the state's or governmental subdivision's last-known address. If the property is leased by the state or the governmental subdivision to another entity and the lessor does not intend to pay the taxes for the lessee as allowed under subsection (4) of section 77-202.11, the lessor shall immediately forward the notice to the lessee.

(2) The state, governmental subdivision, or lessee may protest the determination of the county assessor that the property is not used for a public purpose to the county board of equalization on or before April 1. The county board of equalization shall issue its decision on the protest on or before May 1.

(3) The decision of the county board of equalization may be appealed to the Tax Equalization and Review Commission on or before June 1. The Tax Commissioner in his or her discretion may intervene in an appeal pursuant to this section within thirty days after notice by the Tax Equalization and Review Commission that an appeal has been filed pursuant to this section.

As used in sections 77-202.23 and 77-202.24, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) Disabled person shall mean a veteran who has lost the use of or has undergone amputation of two or more extremities or has undergone amputation of one or more extremities and has lost the use of one or more extremities; and

(2) Blind shall mean a veteran whose sight is so defective as to seriously limit his ability to engage in the ordinary vocations and activities of life.

A mobile home shall be exempt from taxation if it is owned and occupied by a disabled or blind veteran of the United States Armed Forces whose disability or blindness is recognized by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as service connected and who was discharged or otherwise separated with a characterization of honorable or general (under honorable conditions).

Application for the exemption provided in section 77-202.24 shall be made to the county assessor on or before April 1 of every year. The county assessor shall approve or disapprove such application and shall notify the taxpayer of his or her decision within twenty days of the filing of the application. The taxpayer may appeal the decision of the county assessor to the county board of equalization within twenty days after notice of the decision is mailed by the county assessor.

The taxpayer may appeal any decision of the county board of equalization under this section pursuant to section 77-202.04.

All property taxes levied for any county, city, village, or other political subdivision therein shall be due and payable on December 31 next following the date of levy except as provided in section 77-1214. Commencing on that date taxes on real property shall be a first lien on the property taxed until paid or extinguished as provided by law. Taxes on personal property shall be a first lien upon the personal property of the person to whom assessed until paid.

One-half of the taxes due under section 77-203 shall become delinquent on May 1 and the second half on September 1 next following the date the taxes become due, except that in counties having a population of more than one hundred thousand, the first half shall become delinquent April 1 and the second half August 1 next following the date the taxes become due.

All delinquent taxes shall draw interest at a rate equal to the maximum rate of interest allowed per annum under section 45-104.01, as such rate may from time to time be adjusted by the Legislature, from the date they become delinquent, and the interest shall be collected the same as the tax upon which the interest accrues.

The first lien upon real estate under section 77-203 shall take priority over all other encumbrances and liens thereon.

All special assessments, regularly assessed and levied as provided by law, shall be a lien on the real estate on which assessed, and shall take priority over all other encumbrances and liens thereon except the first lien of general taxes under section 77-203.

Any political subdivision, tax-exempt corporation, or proprietorship acting with respect to any hospital and which provides office buildings or office space to tenants who shall be engaged in private enterprise shall charge such tenants a sufficient amount of rent so that a portion of the rent payments shall be in lieu of taxes. Such payments in lieu of taxes shall be paid to the county treasurer to be allocated to the taxing units within which the property is located so that each shall receive, as in lieu of tax payments, the same amount that it would have received from such leased property if it were not exempt from taxation.

Space provided for supportive medical services to patients in hospitals shall be exempt from section 77-211.

There is hereby created and established a department of state government to be known as the Department of Revenue, of which the chief executive officer shall be the Tax Commissioner.

The functions and goals of the Department of Revenue shall be to: (1) Execute faithfully the revenue and property tax laws of the State of Nebraska; (2) provide for efficient, updated, and economical methods and systems of revenue accounting, reporting, enforcement, and related activities; and (3) continually seek to improve its system of administration to provide greater efficiency and convenience to this state's taxpayers.

The Tax Commissioner, through the Department of Revenue, shall exercise those powers, duties, and functions vested in and administered by the Tax Commissioner.

If a federal tax amnesty law is enacted, the Tax Commissioner shall have the authority to duplicate the federal amnesty program in implementing a Nebraska tax amnesty program for all taxpayers owing any tax imposed by reason of or pursuant to authorization by any law of the State of Nebraska and collected by the Department of Revenue. The Tax Commissioner shall have the authority to waive any and all penalties and any and all interest on all delinquent taxes due and owing from any taxpayer.

In order to assist the Department of Revenue in carrying out its duties, the Department of Motor Vehicles shall provide information about individuals holding an operator's or driver's license or a state identification card under the Motor Vehicle Operator's License Act to the Department of Revenue in a manner agreed to by the Department of Revenue and the Department of Motor Vehicles. The information shall include:

(1) The individual's name;

(2) The individual's address of record;

(3) The individual's social security number, if available and permissible under law, and the individual's date of birth;

(4) The type of license, permit, or card held;

(5) The issuance date of the license, permit, or card;

(6) The expiration date of the license, permit, or card; and

(7) The status of the license, permit, or card.

The Department of Revenue may enter into agreements with the Director of Motor Vehicles to carry out this section.

The Governor shall nominate, and, with the advice and consent of the Legislature, shall appoint a Tax Commissioner and shall fix his or her salary.

In case of vacancy in the office of Tax Commissioner by death, resignation, or otherwise, the Governor shall make a temporary appointment until the next session of the Legislature, when the vacancy for the unexpired term shall be filled in the manner provided in section 77-363. The Tax Commissioner may be removed by the Governor, following a public hearing, if requested by the Tax Commissioner.

The Tax Commissioner shall establish, consistent with the laws of the State of Nebraska, such divisions or bureaus or other subdivisions within the office of the Tax Commissioner as he or she may find necessary or desirable to maintain adequate and effective relationships with taxpayers and to improve the administration of the tax laws of this state.

(1) The Tax Commissioner shall appoint or employ deputies, investigators, inspectors, agents, security personnel, and other persons as he or she deems necessary to administer and effectively enforce all provisions of the revenue and property tax laws of this state. The appointed personnel shall hold office at the pleasure of the Tax Commissioner. Any appointed or employed personnel shall perform the duties assigned by the Tax Commissioner.

(2) All personnel appointed or employed by the Tax Commissioner shall be bonded or insured as required by section 11-201. As specified by the Tax Commissioner, certain personnel shall be vested with the authority and power of a law enforcement officer to carry out the laws of this state administered by the Tax Commissioner or the Department of Revenue and to enforce sections 28-1101 to 28-1117 relating to possession of a gambling device pursuant to the limitations in section 9-1,101. Such personnel shall be empowered to arrest with or without a warrant, file and serve any lien, seize property, serve and return a summons, warrant, or subpoena issued by the Tax Commissioner, collect taxes, and bring an offender before any court with jurisdiction in this state, except that such personnel shall not be authorized to carry weapons or enforce any laws other than laws administered by the Tax Commissioner or the Department of Revenue and sections 28-1101 to 28-1117 relating to possession of a gambling device pursuant to the limitations in section 9-1,101.

(3) Subsection (2) of this section shall not be construed to restrict any other law enforcement officer of this state from enforcing any state law, revenue or otherwise.

(1) The Department of Revenue may contract to procure products and services to develop, deploy, or administer systems or programs which identify nonfilers of returns, underreporters, or nonpayers of taxes administered by the department or improper or fraudulent payments made through programs administered by the department. Fees for services, reimbursements, costs incurred by the department, or other remuneration may be funded from the amount of tax, penalty, interest, or other recovery actually collected and shall be paid only after the amount is collected. The Legislature intends to appropriate an amount from the tax, penalty, interest, and other recovery actually collected, not to exceed the amount collected, which is sufficient to pay for services, reimbursements, costs incurred by the department, or other remuneration pursuant to this section. Vendors entering into a contract with the department pursuant to this section are subject to the requirements and penalties of the confidentiality laws of this state regarding tax information.

(2) Ten percent of all proceeds received during each calendar year due to the contracts entered into pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the Department of Revenue Enforcement Fund for purposes of identifying nonfilers, underreporters, nonpayers, and improper or fraudulent payments.

(3) The Tax Commissioner shall report annually to the Revenue Committee of the Legislature and Appropriations Committee of the Legislature on the amount of dollars generated during the previous fiscal year pursuant to this section.

The Tax Commissioner shall make, adopt, and publish such rules and regulations as he or she may deem necessary and desirable to carry out the powers and duties imposed upon him or her and the Department of Revenue.

The form of all schedules, books of instruction, records, and all other forms which may be necessary or expedient for the proper administration of the revenue and property tax laws of the state shall be approved by the Department of Revenue. All such schedules, forms, and documents shall be uniform throughout the several counties insofar as the same is possible and practicable.

The Department of Revenue shall develop, operate, and implement systems for the production of records of taxes and other revenue and receipts collected by any agency of the State of Nebraska. Such records shall provide for the collection and recording of such accounting information in such fashion as may be required by the accounting division of the Department of Administrative Services and shall provide in addition for such further statistical information as the Department of Revenue may find necessary for the effective execution of its responsibilities under appropriate laws of this state.

The Department of Revenue may develop and implement such agreements and working relationships which are consistent with the laws of the State of Nebraska with any federal office, state agency, or local subdivision of state government, either within or without the State of Nebraska which it may find necessary or desirable for proper administration of the tax laws of this state.

(1) The Department of Labor and the Department of Revenue shall use the codes under the North American Industry Classification System for the compilation and publication of statistics rather than codes under the Standard Industrial Classification System.

For the sole purpose of determining or updating the proper code under the appropriate industrial classification system, the Department of Labor and the Department of Revenue may disclose to the other department identification information about taxpayers conducting a business in this state. The information disclosed shall be strictly limited to the name, address, and federal employer identification number or numbers of the taxpayer and the code under the industrial classification system.

(2) Notwithstanding sections 77-2711 and 77-27,119 and for the sole purpose of administration of the Contractor Registration Act and the contractor data base provisions of section 48-2117, the Department of Labor and the Department of Revenue may disclose to the other department identification information about taxpayers conducting a business in this state. The information disclosed shall be limited to the name, address, and federal employer identification number or numbers of the taxpayer.

(3) The disclosures allowed under this section may be made notwithstanding any other provision of law of this state regarding disclosure of information by either department. Any information received by either department under this section shall be considered confidential by the receiving department, and any employee who discloses such information other than as specifically allowed by this section or other laws of this state shall be subject to the penalties normally imposed on employees who improperly disclose information.

Where the Department of Revenue shall find that the administration of the revenue and property tax laws of the state might be more efficiently and economically conducted, it shall cause to be prepared recommendations to effect the desired objective. Such recommendations shall be given to the Governor and the chairperson of the appropriate legislative committee when the Legislature is next in regular session following the development of the recommendations. Should the Legislature be in regular session at the time such recommendations are compiled, the recommendations shall be communicated to the Governor and the appropriate committee of the Legislature.

(1) The Tax Commissioner or his or her duly authorized representative may administer oaths and compel the attendance of witnesses and require the production of records as may be necessary for the performance of his or her responsibilities under applicable state law.

(2) Any person shall comply with a written demand of the Tax Commissioner requiring the production of records notwithstanding the confidentiality provisions of section 8-1401. The records and the information contained thereon shall be protected pursuant to the confidentiality provisions applicable to the Tax Commissioner. Any person disclosing information to the Tax Commissioner pursuant to a demand for production of records under this subsection is immune from liability, civil, criminal, or otherwise, that might result from disclosing such information. The Tax Commissioner shall pay the costs of providing such information pursuant to section 8-1402.

(3) The Tax Commissioner may adopt and promulgate rules of procedure for discovery, not in conflict with the laws governing discovery in civil cases, as may be necessary for the performance of his or her responsibilities under applicable state law.

(4) The Tax Commissioner shall have access to the information required to be reported under the New Hire Reporting Act for the purpose of administering taxes he or she has a duty to collect.

The Tax Commissioner may examine or cause to be examined in his or her behalf, and make memoranda from, any of the financial records of state and local subdivisions, persons, and corporations subject to the tax laws of this state. No information shall be released that is not so authorized by existing statutes.

The Department of Revenue may request the Attorney General or any county attorney to institute proceedings, actions, and prosecutions as may be required to enforce the laws relating to penalties, liabilities, assessments, collection, and payment of revenue and punishment of public officers, persons, or officers or agents of corporations for failure to comply with or for neglect to comply with the provisions of any revenue or property tax law administered by or subject to the administrative jurisdiction of the department.

The Tax Commissioner may, for the purposes of collecting delinquent taxes due from a taxpayer and in addition to exercising those powers in section 77-27,107, contract with any collection agency licensed pursuant to the Collection Agency Act, within or without the state, for the collection of such delinquent taxes, including penalties and interest thereon. Such delinquent tax claims may be assigned to the collection agency, for the purpose of litigation in the agency's name and at the agency's expense, as a means of facilitating and expediting the collection process.

For purposes of this section, a delinquent tax claim shall be defined as a tax liability that is due and owing for a period longer than six months and for which the taxpayer has been given at least three notices requesting payment, one of which shall have been sent by certified or registered mail. The notice sent by certified or registered mail shall include a statement that the matter of such taxpayer's delinquency may be referred to a collection agency in the taxpayer's home state.

(1) Fees for services, reimbursements, or other remuneration to such collection agency shall be based on the amount of tax, penalty, and interest actually collected. Each contract entered into between the Tax Commissioner and the collection agency shall provide for the payment of fees for such services, reimbursements, or other remuneration not in excess of fifty percent of the total amount of delinquent taxes, penalties, and interest actually collected.

(2) All funds collected, less the fees for collection services as provided in the contract, shall be remitted to the Tax Commissioner within forty-five days from the date of collection from a taxpayer. Forms to be used for such remittances shall be prescribed by the Tax Commissioner.

Before entering into such a contract, the Tax Commissioner shall require a bond for the collection agency not in excess of one hundred thousand dollars, guaranteeing compliance with the terms of the contract and such bond shall be in addition to any bond required by section 45-608.

A collection agency entering into a contract with the Tax Commissioner for the collection of delinquent taxes pursuant to sections 77-377.01 to 77-377.04 agrees that it is receiving income from sources within this state or doing business in this state for purposes of the Nebraska income tax laws pursuant to section 77-2733 or 77-2734.02.

(1) The Department of Revenue and the Department of Labor shall prepare, maintain, and publish a list of delinquent taxpayers who owe taxes or fees, including interest, penalties, and costs, in excess of twenty thousand dollars for which a notice of lien has been filed with the appropriate filing officer in accordance with the Uniform State Tax Lien Registration and Enforcement Act, except that no such list of delinquent taxpayers shall include any taxpayer that has not exhausted or waived all rights of appeal from a final balance of tax liability. The list may be posted on the web site of the Department of Revenue or the Department of Labor. The list shall include the name and address of the delinquent taxpayer, the type of tax or fee due, and the amount of tax or fee due, including interest, penalties, and costs.

(2) The Tax Commissioner and Commissioner of Labor shall update the list of delinquent taxpayers on a quarterly basis. The list shall not include (a) the name or related information of any taxpayer who has entered into a payment agreement with the Tax Commissioner or Commissioner of Labor and who is in compliance with that agreement or (b) the name or related information of any person who is protected by a stay that is in effect under the federal bankruptcy law. The name of a taxpayer shall be removed from the list within fifteen days after the payment in full of the debt or within fifteen days after the taxpayer enters into a payment agreement with the Tax Commissioner or Commissioner of Labor. A taxpayer may be placed back on the list if the taxpayer is more than fifteen days delinquent on a payment agreement.

(3) At least thirty days before the disclosure of the name of a delinquent taxpayer pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, the Tax Commissioner or Commissioner of Labor shall mail a written notice to the delinquent taxpayer at the taxpayer's last-known address informing the taxpayer that the failure to cure the tax delinquency could result in the taxpayer's name being included in a list of delinquent taxpayers that is published by the Tax Commissioner or Commissioner of Labor pursuant to this section.

Sections 77-379 to 77-385 shall be known and may be cited as the Tax Expenditure Reporting Act.

It is the intent of sections 77-202.03 and 77-379 to 77-385 to provide a mechanism which will enable the Legislature to better determine those sectors of the economy which are receiving indirect subsidies as a result of tax expenditures. The Legislature recognizes that the present budgeting system fails to accurately and totally reflect the revenue lost due to such tax expenditures and that as a result undetermined amounts of potential revenue are escaping public or legislative scrutiny. The loss of such potential revenue causes a narrowing of the tax base which in turn forces higher tax rates on the remaining tax base.

For purposes of the Tax Expenditure Reporting Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) Tax expenditure shall mean a revenue reduction that occurs in the tax base of the state or a political subdivision as the result of an exemption, deduction, exclusion, tax deferral, credit, or preferential rate introduced into the tax structure;

(2) Department shall mean the Department of Revenue;

(3) Income tax shall mean the tax imposed upon individuals and corporations under the Nebraska Revenue Act of 1967;

(4) Sales tax shall mean the tax imposed upon expenditures under the Nebraska Revenue Act of 1967;

(5) Property tax shall mean the tax imposed upon real and personal property under Chapter 77; and

(6) Miscellaneous tax shall mean revenue sources other than income, sales, and property taxes for state and local government including, but not limited to, motor fuel taxes, liquor taxes, cigarette taxes, inheritance and estate taxes, generation-skipping transfer taxes, insurance premium taxes, and occupation taxes and fees or other taxes which generate state or local revenue annually in excess of two million dollars.

The department shall prepare a tax expenditure report describing (1) the basic provisions of the Nebraska tax laws, (2) the actual or estimated revenue loss caused by the exemptions, deductions, exclusions, deferrals, credits, and preferential rates in effect on July 1 of each year and allowed under Nebraska's tax structure and in the property tax, and (3) the elements which make up the tax base for state and local income, including income, sales and use, property, and miscellaneous taxes. The department shall review the major tax exemptions for which state general funds are used to reduce the impact of revenue lost due to a tax expenditure. The report shall indicate an estimate of the amount of the reduction in revenue resulting from the operation of all tax expenditures. The report shall make recommendations relating to the elimination, in whole or in part, of particular tax expenditures or to the limiting of the duration of particular tax expenditures to a fixed number of years. It is the intent of the Legislature that nothing in the Tax Expenditure Reporting Act shall cause the valuation or assessment of any property exempt from taxation on the basis of its use exclusively for religious, educational, or charitable purposes.

The department may request from any state or local official or agency any information necessary to complete the report required under section 77-382. All state and local officials or agencies shall cooperate with the department with respect to any such request.

The report required under section 77-382 and a summary of the report shall be submitted to the Governor, the Executive Board of the Legislative Council, and the chairpersons of the Legislature's Revenue and Appropriations Committees on or before October 15, 1991, and October 15 of every even-numbered year thereafter. The summary shall be included with or appended to the Governor's budget presented to the Legislature in odd-numbered years.

The Department of Revenue may charge persons and state agencies for the following publications of the Department of Revenue: Department of Revenue Annual Report, Package XN, Department of Revenue Tax Expenditure Report, and the Department of Revenue State Funds Booklet. The Tax Commissioner shall set the price of such publications which shall be the cost of production.

All funds received pursuant to sections 77-3,109 and 77-3,118 shall be remitted to the State Treasurer for credit to the Department of Revenue Miscellaneous Receipts Fund which is hereby created. All money in the fund shall be administered by the Department of Revenue and shall be used to defray the cost of production of the publications listed in section 77-3,109 or of the listings described in section 77-3,118, except that transfers may be made from the fund to the General Fund at the direction of the Legislature. Any money in the Department of Revenue Miscellaneous Receipts Fund available for investment shall be invested by the state investment officer pursuant to the Nebraska Capital Expansion Act and the Nebraska State Funds Investment Act.

(1) Notwithstanding any provision of law, the Tax Commissioner shall not approve or grant to any person or taxpayer any tax credit or exemption for the construction of a facility or the employment of people for the disposal in Nebraska of low-level radioactive waste for which a license is required pursuant to the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Act.

(2) Notwithstanding any provision of law, the Tax Commissioner shall not approve or grant to any person any tax credit, exemption, or refund for the employment of any person who has been removed from the United States pursuant to proceedings initiated by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or other competent authority, or who has been convicted in a criminal court proceeding for offenses related to illegal immigration. Any benefits that were received prior to the removal or conviction will be recaptured to the extent the benefits were received based on the employment of such persons.

The Department of Revenue shall gather, prepare, and study material which shall be used as a basis for developing tax policy changes. The material shall be directed toward providing results which would be useful to a concept of analyzing the impact of taxes on different economic sectors as defined by the Standard Industrial Code in the state and the impact on those sectors of any policy changes in taxes. The study shall be updated to serve as a basis to review future proposed tax policy changes. The study shall include, but not be restricted to, the following:

(1) Compiling an accurate and dependable set of indicators that show the role each economic sector plays in Nebraska's economy and each sector's legal tax incidence by tax types. The purpose is to develop an appropriate share for each economic sector's responsibility for state and local taxes;

(2) The amount of taxes, fees, and other governmental costs imposed on each economic sector which amount shall include those taxes, fees, and other governmental costs imposed on individuals employed in industries in such sector; and

(3) If possible, an estimate of those state and local taxes, fees, and other governmental costs which are exported outside the state or offset by provisions of state and federal tax laws.

The Department of Revenue and the Department of Labor shall cooperate and participate in the collection of data for the study. Other state agencies, including the University of Nebraska, shall assist in the study or the update as requested by the Department of Revenue and as any necessary funds are available. Any agency may contract with the Department of Revenue to provide such assistance. The Department of Revenue may also contract with an independent entity for the entity to conduct or assist in conducting such study or update. The department, other state agency, or independent entity preparing the material or study shall utilize and consider, along with other information, the results of any available study relating to the items listed in section 77-3,115 and conducted or contracted for by the Legislature in the year prior to April 16, 1992.

A preliminary report of the initial study's models and initial findings shall be reported by the Department of Revenue to the chairpersons of the Appropriations Committee and Revenue Committee of the Legislature, the Clerk of the Legislature, and the Governor by December 1, 1992. The initial study shall be completed and the department shall report its findings to the same entities by December 1, 1993. The study shall be updated and the update shall be reported to the same entities (1) on December 1, 1994, and every four years thereafter or (2) more often if determined appropriate by the Tax Commissioner and if the data or economic circumstances reported in the previous report have changed to such a degree as to vary the conclusions in the previous report or update.

Any models developed for the initial study or update shall be shared with the Legislative Fiscal Analyst. The Department of Revenue shall include in its budget request for every other biennium following the 1991-93 biennium sufficient appropriation authority to conduct or contract for the required update.

(1) When the Department of Revenue finds that the administration of the revenue laws might be more efficiently and economically conducted, the department may require or allow for rounding of all amounts on returns or reports, including amounts of tax. Amounts will be rounded to the nearest dollar, with amounts ending in fifty cents or more rounded to the next highest dollar.

(2) The department may, on an annual basis, eliminate account balances of one dollar or less under uniform procedures developed by the department.

(3) For sales and use tax purposes, the tax computation shall be carried to the third decimal place and rounded down to a whole cent whenever the third decimal place is four or less and rounded up to a whole cent whenever the third decimal place is greater than four.

The Department of Revenue may charge persons and state agencies for any listings made by the department of information that is not confidential. The Tax Commissioner shall set the price of such listings which shall be the cost of production.

(1) The Tax Commissioner shall certify the population of cities and villages to be used for purposes of calculations made pursuant to subdivision (4) of section 18-2603, subdivisions (3)(a) and (b) of section 35-1205, subdivision (1) of section 39-2517, and sections 39-2513 and 77-27,139.02. The Tax Commissioner shall transmit copies of such certification to all interested parties upon request.

(2) The Tax Commissioner shall certify the population of each city and village based upon the most recent federal census. The Tax Commissioner shall determine the most recent federal census for each city and village by using the most recent federal census figures available from (a) the most recent federal decennial census, (b) the most recent federal census update or recount certified by the United States Bureau of the Census, or (c) the most recent federal census figure of the city or village plus the population of territory annexed as calculated in sections 18-1753 and 18-1754.

(3) The Tax Commissioner may adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to carry out this section.

The Property Tax Administrator shall:

(1) Establish, implement, and maintain a required system of educational courses for the certification and recertification of all holders of county assessor certificates; and

(2) Establish the required educational standards and criteria for certification and recertification of all holders of county assessor certificates.

In order to promote compliance with the requirements of this section, the Tax Commissioner shall adopt and promulgate, and from time to time amend or revise, rules and regulations containing the necessary educational standards and criteria for certification and recertification.

In cooperation with the county assessors association, the Property Tax Administrator may arrange and conduct seminars in assessment methods, which seminars shall be supplementary to any educational course required under section 77-414.

(1) The Property Tax Administrator shall, in February, May, August, and November of each year, hold an examination of applicants for certification as county assessor. An applicant for the examination shall, not less than ten days before an examination, present to the Property Tax Administrator a written application on forms provided by the Property Tax Administrator. Such application shall not be considered by the Property Tax Administrator unless accompanied by a payment of a fee to the order of the Tax Commissioner. The fees shall be credited to the Department of Revenue Property Assessment Division Cash Fund. The amount of such fee shall be determined annually by the Tax Commissioner and shall be sufficient to cover the costs of the administration of the examination. Such examination shall be written and shall be of such character as fairly to test and determine the qualifications, fitness, and ability of the person tested actually to perform the duties of county assessor. The Property Tax Administrator shall prepare such examination.

(2) When the office of county assessor is vacant, the county board may for good cause request a certification examination from the Property Tax Administrator at a time different from those set out in subsection (1) of this section. The request shall be in writing and shall state the basis for the certification examination. The Property Tax Administrator shall within ten days after receipt of the request for certification review the request and send notice of approval or disapproval to the county board. If approved, the Property Tax Administrator shall state the date, time, and place of the requested certification examination.

(1) Upon the successful completion of the examination by the applicant, a county assessor certificate shall be issued to him or her.

(2) The Tax Commissioner shall establish a system for revocation or suspension of a certificate, including a certificate issued by the Property Tax Administrator, for failure to maintain the educational standards and criteria and shall have the power to revoke the certificate if the certificate holder has not successfully met the educational requirements in section 77-414. A copy of the Tax Commissioner's written order revoking or suspending a certificate shall be mailed to the person within seven days after the date of the order.

(3) Any person whose certificate, including a certificate issued by the Property Tax Administrator, has been revoked or suspended may appeal the written order of the Tax Commissioner, within thirty days after the date of the order, to the Tax Equalization and Review Commission in accordance with section 77-5013.

(4) A person whose certificate has been invalidated by the commission or the Tax Commissioner shall not be eligible to hold a certificate for five years after the date of invalidation.

The Property Tax Administrator shall assess all operating property of the railroads and railroad corporations in the State of Nebraska as defined in section 77-602.

The Property Tax Administrator in May of each year shall proceed to ascertain all operating property of any railroad company owning, operating, or controlling any railroad or railroad service in this state. Operating property is property that contributes to the operation of a railroad and which for the purpose of this section shall be held to include the main track, sidetrack, spur tracks, warehouse tracks, roadbed, right-of-way and depot grounds, all machine and repair shops, general office buildings, storehouses, and all water and fuel stations, buildings, and superstructures located on any of such property, any manufacturing plant necessary in the operation of such railroad and any property used or held in connection with the manufacturing plant, all machinery, rolling stock, telegraph lines and instruments connected with such lines, all material on hand and supplies provided for operating and carrying on the business of such road, in whole or in part, franchises, all personal property of such railroad company, and all other real property of such railroad company which is adjacent and contiguous to the railroad right-of-way and is used or held for the sole purpose of operating the railroad. Nonoperating property is property owned or leased by a railroad company that does not contribute to the operation of a railroad. The Property Tax Administrator shall value operating property as other real and personal property.

On or before April 15 each year, the person, company, or corporation owning, operating, or controlling any railroad or railroad service in this state shall, by a duly authorized corporate representative or official, return to the Property Tax Administrator a statement of the property of such company on January 1 preceding. The statement shall be made on forms prescribed by the Tax Commissioner. All information reported by the railroad company, not available from any other public source, and any memorandum thereof shall be confidential and available to taxing officials only. For good cause shown, the Property Tax Administrator may allow an extension of time in which to file such statement. Such extension shall not exceed fifteen days after April 15. Such statement shall include:

(1) A list of the right-of-way, track, and roadbed, giving the entire length of the main track and sidetrack in this and other states, and showing as to this state the portion in each governmental subdivision;

(2) A schedule showing: (a) The amount of capital stock authorized and the number of shares into which such capital stock is divided; (b) the amount of capital stock paid up; (c) the market value of the stock or, if of no market value, then the true value of the shares of stock; (d) the total amount of all secured and unsecured indebtedness except for current expenses of operating the road; and (e) the taxable valuation of all its operating property in this state that is locally assessed;

(3) A correct return of the value of all materials and supplies used for operating and carrying on the business of such railroad;

(4) The total gross earnings and net earnings of such corporation during the year for which the statement is made, and the total amount expended in the operation and maintenance of the property and the improvements to such property, distinguishing that expended in improvement or betterment from that expended in maintenance and operation, also the dividend last declared upon its shares and the amount thereof, and the date, number, and amount of all dividends declared upon its stock during the year preceding the date of such report; and

(5) Such other necessary information as the Property Tax Administrator may require, all of which shall be taken into consideration in ascertaining and fixing the value of such railroad and the franchise thereof.

The sale of railroad operating property as defined in section 77-602 shall be reported by the purchaser to the Property Tax Administrator within thirty days after the date of sale. The purchaser shall identify the seller, the date of the sale, any change in the name of the railroad, the main track and sidetrack mileage located in each political subdivision, and the purchase price. If additional information regarding the sale is deemed necessary, the Property Tax Administrator shall make a written request for such information to the purchaser or seller. This requirement shall apply only to a purchaser subject to section 77-603. For each day's failure to furnish the information required to be reported by this section, the Tax Commissioner shall assess a penalty in the amount of one hundred dollars, except that the penalty shall not exceed ten thousand dollars. Such penalty shall be collected by the Tax Commissioner and credited to the Department of Revenue Property Assessment Division Cash Fund. The Tax Commissioner may waive all or part of the penalty provided in this section.

The returns of railroad companies or corporations shall not be held to be conclusive as to the taxable value of the property, but the Property Tax Administrator shall, from all the information which he or she is able to obtain, including records of the Public Service Commission or other regulatory body, find the taxable value of all such property, including tangible property and franchises, and shall assess such property on the same basis as other property is required to be assessed.

The taxable value of the railroad companies allocated to the state shall be distributed as follows:

(1) Five percent shall be distributed to all taxing subdivisions where the railroad company has investment in general office buildings or machine and repair facilities proportionate to the company's investment in general office buildings and machine and repair facilities in the state; and

(2) The balance shall be distributed to all taxing subdivisions including cities and villages based on a formula in which fifty percent of the valuation is based on miles of main track and sidetrack and fifty percent of the valuation is based on density factor on miles of main track and sidetrack. The value per mile of sidetrack shall equal the value of the line divided by the following quantity: The number of miles of sidetrack plus two times the number of miles of main track. The value per mile of main track shall equal twice the value per mile of sidetrack as computed in this section.

For purposes of Chapter 77, article 6, the reference to sidetrack shall include all track not properly designated as main track and shall include, but not be limited to, passing track, yard track, and track within terminals. Main track shall be defined as that track over which regularly scheduled railroad operations are conducted. Density factor shall be determined by ton-miles traveled over a route, measured by the number of tons of revenue freight moved one mile.

For each day's failure to furnish the statement required by section 77-603 or for each day's failure to furnish the information as required on those statements, the Tax Commissioner shall assess a penalty in the amount of one hundred dollars, except that the penalty shall not exceed ten thousand dollars. Such penalty shall be collected by the Tax Commissioner and credited to the Department of Revenue Property Assessment Division Cash Fund. The Tax Commissioner, in his or her discretion, may waive all or part of the penalty provided in this section.

The county assessor shall assess all nonoperating property of any railroad company. A railroad company operating within the State of Nebraska shall, on or before January 1 of each year, report to the county assessor all nonoperating property belonging to such railroad company.

The Tax Commissioner shall have power to require any officer, agent, or servant of any railroad or railway company having any portion of its property in this state to attend a hearing and to answer under oath questions regarding the property. The Tax Commissioner shall have power to issue whatever notice or process may be necessary to compel the attendance of any such person as a witness.

Beginning January 1, 2001, the Property Tax Administrator shall annually calculate the density factor used in distributing value along the line based upon an average of the most recent three years. If a density factor cannot be determined in this manner, the Property Tax Administrator may use other information to develop a fair and reasonable factor in lieu of the density factor.

On or before July 1, the Property Tax Administrator shall mail a draft appraisal to each railroad company required to file pursuant to section 77-603. The Property Tax Administrator shall, on or before July 15 of each year, notify by certified mail each railroad company of the total allocated value of its operating property. If a railroad company feels aggrieved, such railroad company may, on or before August 1, file with the Tax Commissioner an administrative appeal in writing stating that it claims the valuation is unjust or inequitable, the amount which it is claimed the valuation should be, and the excess therein and asking for an adjustment of the valuation by the Tax Commissioner. The Tax Commissioner shall act upon the appeal and shall issue a written order mailed to the company within seven days after the date of the order. The order may be appealed within thirty days after the date of the order to the Tax Equalization and Review Commission in accordance with section 77-5013.

No injunction shall be granted restraining the levy of taxes under the assessment made by the Property Tax Administrator.

On or before August 10, the Property Tax Administrator shall certify to the railroad company and county assessor the railroad company's total taxable equalized value and the distribution of that value determined pursuant to section 77-604. The report of distributed value shall include:

(1) The number of miles of main track and sidetrack of each railroad located in each governmental subdivision and the total length of main track and sidetrack in the county;

(2) The assessed valuation per mile of such main track and sidetrack; and

(3) The valuations that shall be placed to the credit of such governmental subdivision in the county.

For purposes of certifying values pursuant to section 13-509, the county assessor shall include the railroad company value as certified by the Property Tax Administrator pursuant to section 77-621. The taxes so levied shall be included upon the personal property tax roll and be due and payable in the same manner as personal property taxes pursuant to sections 77-203 and 77-204. From the date the taxes are due and payable, the taxes shall be a first lien upon the personal property of the railroad company to whom assessed until paid. The procedure for the collection of any delinquent tax pursuant to this section shall be that used for the collection of personal property tax.

For purposes of sections 77-680 to 77-691, car line company shall mean any person, other than a person operating a railroad, owning or operating any railroad cars through, in, or into the State of Nebraska.

The president or other chief officer or owner of every car line company shall, on or before June 1 of each year, furnish to the Property Tax Administrator, on forms prescribed by the Tax Commissioner, a statement showing (1) the aggregate number of miles made by each class of its cars on the several lines of railroad in this state during the preceding year ending December 31, (2) the aggregate number of miles made by each class of its cars on all railroad lines during the preceding year ending December 31, (3) the total number of each type of its cars, (4) the taxable value of its cars, and (5) the number of its cars required to make the total mileage in this state. For good cause shown, the Property Tax Administrator may allow an extension of time in which to file such statement.

The president or other chief officer of every railroad company which has lines running through, in, or into this state shall, on or before June 1 of each year, furnish to the Property Tax Administrator a statement, verified by the affidavit of the officer or person making the statement, showing the total number of miles traveled by each class of cars of every car line company on their lines, branches, sidings, spurs, and warehouse tracks in this state during the preceding year ending December 31. For good cause shown, the Property Tax Administrator may allow an extension of time in which to file such statement. Such extension shall not exceed thirty days after June 1.

The Property Tax Administrator shall ascertain from the statements made under sections 77-680 and 77-681, or from any other information available, the number of cars of each class required to make the total mileage in this state of each car line company within the period of one year. The Property Tax Administrator shall ascertain and fix the value upon each particular class of cars which as nearly as possible shall be the taxable value of such cars, and the number so ascertained shall be assessed to the respective car line company. The method of allocation shall be determined by the Property Tax Administrator. For the purpose of making the assessment, the Property Tax Administrator may base the assessment upon the statements of the railroad companies.

(1) For each day's failure to furnish the statement required by section 77-680 or 77-681 or for each day's failure to furnish the information as required on the statement, the company may be assessed a penalty in the amount of one hundred dollars, except that the penalty shall not exceed ten thousand dollars. Such penalty shall be collected by the Tax Commissioner and credited to the Department of Revenue Property Assessment Division Cash Fund. The Tax Commissioner may waive all or part of the penalty provided in this section.

(2) In determining the number of such cars, the Property Tax Administrator, insofar as may be practicable, shall harmonize the statements of the railroad companies and car line companies. Such assessment shall be included in the records of the Property Tax Administrator.

The Property Tax Administrator shall, on or before January 15 each year, establish a tax rate for purposes of taxation against the taxable value as provided in sections 77-682 and 77-683 at a rate which shall be equal to the total property taxes levied in the state divided by the total taxable value of all taxable property in the state as certified pursuant to section 77-1613.01. The date when such tax rate is determined shall be deemed to be the levy date for the property. The Property Tax Administrator shall send to each car line company a statement showing the taxable value, the tax rate, and the amount of the tax and a statement that such tax is due and payable to the Property Tax Administrator on January 31 next following the levy thereof. If a car line company feels aggrieved, such company may, on or before February 15, file an appeal with the Tax Commissioner. The Tax Commissioner shall act upon the appeal and shall issue a written order mailed to the company within seven days after the date of the order. The order may be appealed within thirty days after the date of the order to the Tax Equalization and Review Commission in accordance with section 77-5013. The Property Tax Administrator shall remit the tax collected, less a three-percent collection fee, to the State Treasurer for distribution among the taxing subdivisions in proportion to all railroad taxes levied by taxing subdivisions. The collection fee shall be remitted to the State Treasurer for credit to the Department of Revenue Property Assessment Division Cash Fund.

The Tax Commissioner may issue a distress warrant to compel payment of the tax required by section 77-684 which may be served by any sheriff, any member of the Nebraska State Patrol, or any person specially deputized by the Tax Commissioner to serve such warrant. At the time the tax is paid, the Tax Commissioner shall issue a receipt in duplicate, one of which shall be given to the taxpayer and one filed with the State Treasurer at the time the tax collected is remitted by the Tax Commissioner to the state treasury.

The Property Tax Administrator, on or before January 15 of each year, shall certify to the State Treasurer the names of the car line companies and the several amounts of taxes levied under section 77-684.

One-half of the taxes levied as provided in section 77-684 shall become delinquent March 1, and the second half on July 1, next following the date the tax has become due and payable. All delinquent taxes shall bear interest at the rate specified in section 45-104.01, as such rate may from time to time be adjusted by the Legislature, from the date they become delinquent, and the interest shall be collected in the same manner as the tax on which the interest accrues. If such taxes and interest due thereon have not been paid on July 1 following the levy thereof, the Tax Commissioner shall collect the tax and interest by distress and sale of any property belonging to such delinquent car line company in the same manner as is required of county treasurers and county sheriffs in like cases.

Sections 77-689 to 77-691 shall apply to car line companies taxed under sections 77-680 to 77-691, and the procedure provided in sections 77-689 to 77-691 for collection of such taxes shall be in addition to other procedures available for the collection of such taxes.

If any taxes and interest and penalties due on such taxes have not been paid on July 1 following the levy thereof, the total amount shall be a lien in favor of the State of Nebraska upon all money and credits belonging to the car line companies until the liability therefor is satisfied or otherwise released or discharged. The Tax Commissioner or his or her designated agent may collect such total amount by issuing a distress warrant and making levy upon all money and credits belonging to such car line companies. Such lien shall be filed and enforced pursuant to the Uniform State Tax Lien Registration and Enforcement Act.

Any car line company in possession of any money and credits upon which levy has been made shall, upon demand of the Tax Commissioner or his or her designated agent, surrender the same to the Tax Commissioner or his or her designated agent. If any such car line company fails or refuses to surrender the money and credits in accordance with the requirements of this section, such car line company shall be liable to the State of Nebraska in a sum equal to the value of the money and credits not so surrendered but not exceeding the amount of the taxes, interest, and penalties for the collection of which such levy has been made.

The money realized from any levy made pursuant to section 77-689 shall be first applied by the Tax Commissioner toward payment of any costs incurred by virtue of such levy and next to the payment of such taxes, interest, and penalties. Any balance remaining shall then be paid over to the car line company entitled thereto.

(1) The Property Tax Administrator in determining the taxable value of railroads and car lines shall determine the following ratios involving railroad and car line property and commercial and industrial property:

(a) The ratio of the taxable value of all commercial and industrial personal property in the state actually subjected to property tax divided by the market value of all commercial and industrial personal property in the state;

(b) The ratio of the taxable value of all commercial and industrial real property in the state actually subjected to property tax divided by the market value of all commercial and industrial real property in the state;

(c) The ratio of the taxable value of railroad personal property to the market value of railroad personal property. The numerator of the ratio shall be the taxable value of railroad personal property. The denominator of the ratio shall be the railroad system value allocated to Nebraska and multiplied by a factor representing the net book value of rail transportation personal property divided by the net book value of total rail transportation property;

(d) The ratio of the taxable value of railroad real property to the market value of railroad real property. The numerator of the ratio shall be the taxable value of railroad real property. The denominator of the ratio shall be the railroad system value allocated to Nebraska and multiplied by a factor representing the net book value of rail transportation real property divided by the net book value of total rail transportation property; and

(e) Similar calculations shall be made for car line taxable properties.

(2) If the ratio of the taxable value of railroad and car line personal or real property exceeds the ratio of the comparable taxable commercial and industrial property by more than five percent, the Property Tax Administrator may adjust the value of such railroad and car line property to the percentage of the comparable taxable commercial and industrial property pursuant to federal statute or Nebraska federal court decisions applicable thereto.

(3) For purposes of this section, commercial and industrial property shall mean all real and personal property which is devoted to commercial or industrial use other than rail transportation property and land used primarily for agricultural purposes.

(1) A division of state government to be known as the property assessment division of the Department of Revenue is established. The Property Tax Administrator shall be the chief administrative officer of the division but shall be under the general supervision of the Tax Commissioner.

(2) The goals and functions of the division shall be to: (a) Execute faithfully the property tax laws of the State of Nebraska; (b) provide for efficient, updated methods and systems of property tax reporting, enforcement, and related activities; and (c) continually seek to improve its system of administration.

(3) All employees, budget requirements, appropriations, encumbrances, and assets and liabilities of the Department of Property Assessment and Taxation for the administration of property valuation and equalization shall be transferred and delivered to the division. The transferred employees shall not lose any accrued benefits or status due to the transfer and shall receive the same benefits as other state employees, including participation in the State Employees Retirement Act.

(4) The Tax Commissioner or Property Tax Administrator may appeal any final decision of a county board of equalization relating to the granting or denying of an exemption of real or personal property to the Tax Equalization and Review Commission. If the Tax Commissioner or Property Tax Administrator files such an appeal, the person, corporation, or organization granted or denied the exemption by the county board of equalization shall be made a party to the appeal and shall be issued a notice of the appeal by the Tax Equalization and Review Commission within thirty days after the appeal is filed. The Tax Commissioner or Property Tax Administrator may appeal any final decision of the Tax Equalization and Review Commission relating to the granting or denying of an exemption of real or personal property or relating to the valuation or equalization of real property.

(1) The Governor shall appoint a Property Tax Administrator with the approval of a majority of the members of the Legislature. The Property Tax Administrator shall have experience and training in the fields of taxation and property appraisal and shall meet all the qualifications required for members of the Tax Equalization and Review Commission under subsections (1) and (2) of section 77-5004. The Property Tax Administrator shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to carry out his or her duties through June 30, 2007. Rules, regulations, and forms of the Property Tax Administrator in effect on July 1, 2007, shall be valid rules, regulations, and forms of the Department of Revenue beginning on July 1, 2007.

(2) In addition to any duties, powers, or responsibilities otherwise conferred upon the Property Tax Administrator, he or she shall administer and enforce all laws related to the state supervision of local property tax administration and the central assessment of property subject to property taxation. The Property Tax Administrator shall also advise county assessors regarding the administration and assessment of taxable property within the state and measure assessment performance in order to determine the accuracy and uniformity of assessments.

The form of all schedules, books of instruction, assessment and tax books, records, and other forms which may be necessary or expedient for the proper administration of the property tax laws of the state shall be approved by the Tax Commissioner. All such schedules, forms, and documents shall be uniform throughout the several counties insofar as the same is possible and practicable. The Department of Revenue may provide forms on a reimbursement basis. Alterations to any prescribed form may be made only upon written application to and written approval from the Tax Commissioner.

The Department of Revenue may develop and implement such agreements and working relationships which are consistent with the laws of the State of Nebraska with any federal office, state agency, or local subdivision of state government, either within or without the State of Nebraska, which it may find necessary or desirable for proper administration of the property tax laws of this state.

(1) The Property Tax Administrator or his or her duly authorized representative may administer oaths, compel the attendance of witnesses, and require the production of records as may be necessary for the performance of his or her responsibilities under applicable state law.

(2) The Property Tax Administrator may adopt and promulgate rules of procedure for discovery, not in conflict with the laws governing discovery in civil cases, as may be necessary for the performance of his or her responsibilities under applicable state law.

The property assessment division of the Department of Revenue shall publish an annual report detailing property tax valuations, taxes levied, and property tax rates throughout the state. The annual report shall display information by political subdivision and by property type within each county and also include statewide summarizations. The department may charge a fee for copies of the annual report. The Tax Commissioner shall set the fee, based on the reasonable cost of production.

All public service entities shall, on or before April 15 of each year, furnish a statement specifying such information as may be required by the Property Tax Administrator on forms prescribed by the Tax Commissioner to determine and distribute the entity's total taxable value including the franchise value. All information reported by the public service entities, not available from any other public source, and any memorandum thereof shall be confidential and available to taxing officials only. For good cause shown, the Property Tax Administrator may allow an extension of time in which to file such statement. Such extension shall not exceed fifteen days after April 15.

The returns of public service entities shall not be held to be conclusive as to the taxable value of the property, but the Property Tax Administrator shall, from all the information which he or she is able to obtain, find the taxable value of all such property, including tangible property and franchises, and shall assess such property on the same basis as other property is required to be assessed.

The county assessor shall assess all nonoperating property of any public service entity. A public service entity operating within the State of Nebraska shall, on or before January 1 of each year, report to the county assessor of each county in which it has situs all nonoperating property belonging to such entity which is not subject to assessment and assessed by the Property Tax Administrator under section 77-802.

As used in sections 77-801 to 77-804:

(1) Nonoperating property means property owned or leased by a public service entity that does not contribute to the entity's function;

(2) Operating property means property owned or leased that contributes to a public service entity's function; and

(3) Public service entity means any person as defined in section 49-801 or entity, organized for profit under the laws of this state or any other state or government and engaged in the business of waterworks, electrical power, gas works, natural gas, telecommunications, pipelines used for the transmission of oil, heat, steam, or any substance to be used for lighting, heating, or power, and pipelines used for the transmission of articles by pneumatic or other power and all other similar or like entities.

The Tax Commissioner shall have power to require any officer, agent, or servant of any public service entity having any portion of its property in this state to attend a hearing and to answer under oath questions regarding the property. The Tax Commissioner shall have power to issue whatever notice or process may be necessary to compel the attendance of any such person as a witness.

The Property Tax Administrator shall apportion the total taxable value including the franchise value to all taxing subdivisions in proportion to the ratio of the original cost of all operating real and tangible personal property of that public service entity having a situs in that taxing subdivision to the original cost of all operating real and tangible personal property of that public service entity having a situs in the state.

If the apportionment in accordance with this section does not fairly represent the proportion of the taxable value, including franchise value properly allocable to the county, the taxpayer may petition for or the Property Tax Administrator may require the inclusion of any other method to effectuate an equitable allocation of the value of the public service entity for purposes of taxation.

On or before July 25, the Property Tax Administrator shall mail a draft appraisal to each public service entity as defined in section 77-801.01. On or before August 10, the Property Tax Administrator shall, by certified mail, notify each public service entity of its taxable value and the distribution of that value to the taxing subdivisions in which the entity has situs. On or before August 10, the Property Tax Administrator shall also certify to the county assessors the taxable value so determined.

For purposes of certifying values pursuant to section 13-509, the county assessor shall include the public service entity value as certified by the Property Tax Administrator pursuant to section 77-802. The taxes so levied shall be included upon the personal property tax roll and be due and payable in the same manner as personal property taxes pursuant to sections 77-203 and 77-204. From the date the taxes are due and payable, the taxes shall be a first lien upon the personal property of the public service entity to whom assessed until paid. The procedure for the collection of any delinquent tax pursuant to this section shall be that used for the collection of personal property tax.

On or before September 10, if a public service entity feels aggrieved, such public service entity may file an appeal with the Tax Commissioner. The Tax Commissioner shall act upon the appeal and shall issue a written order mailed to the entity within seven days after the date of the order. The order may be appealed within thirty days after the date of the order to the Tax Equalization and Review Commission in accordance with section 77-5013.

For each day's failure to furnish the statement required by section 77-801 or for each day's failure to furnish the information as required on those statements, the public service entity may be assessed a penalty in the amount of one hundred dollars, except that the penalty shall not exceed ten thousand dollars. Such penalty shall be collected by the Tax Commissioner and credited to the Department of Revenue Property Assessment Division Cash Fund. The Tax Commissioner, in his or her discretion, may waive all or part of the penalty provided in this section.

Any sale of a public service entity as defined in section 77-801.01 shall be reported by the purchaser to the Property Tax Administrator within thirty days from the date of the sale. The purchaser shall identify the seller, the date of the sale, any change in name of the entity, and the purchase price of the entity. If additional information regarding the sale is needed by the Property Tax Administrator, a specific written request shall be made. For each day's failure to furnish the information, an entity may be assessed a penalty in the amount of one hundred dollars, except that the penalty shall not exceed ten thousand dollars. Such penalty shall be collected by the Tax Commissioner and credited to the Department of Revenue Property Assessment Division Cash Fund. The Tax Commissioner may waive all or part of the penalty provided in this section.

As used in Chapter 77, article 9, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) Domestic, foreign, and alien insurance companies shall have the meanings as set forth in section 44-103 and shall include reciprocal or interinsurance exchanges and their designated attorneys in fact as defined in Chapter 44, article 12;

(2) Department shall mean the Department of Insurance;

(3) Director shall mean the Director of Insurance;

(4) Premiums shall mean the consideration paid to insurance companies for insurance and shall include policy fees, assessments, dues, or other similar payments, except that premiums on all annuity contracts and pension, profit-sharing, individually sponsored retirement plans, and other pension plan contracts which are described in section 818(a) of the Internal Revenue Code shall be exempt from taxation;

(5) License shall mean certificate of authority as contemplated by section 44-105; and

(6) Direct writing shall mean insurance as defined in section 44-102, but shall not include reinsurance as defined in section 44-103.

Every insurance company organized under the stock, mutual, assessment, or reciprocal plan, except fraternal benefit societies, which is transacting business in this state shall, on or before March 1 of each year, pay a tax to the director of one percent of the gross amount of direct writing premiums received by it during the preceding calendar year for business done in this state, except that (1) for group sickness and accident insurance the rate of such tax shall be five-tenths of one percent and (2) for property and casualty insurance, excluding individual sickness and accident insurance, the rate of such tax shall be one percent. A captive insurer authorized under the Captive Insurers Act that is transacting business in this state shall, on or before March 1 of each year, pay to the director a tax of one-fourth of one percent of the gross amount of direct writing premiums received by such insurer during the preceding calendar year for business transacted in the state. The taxable premiums shall include premiums paid on the lives of persons residing in this state and premiums paid for risks located in this state whether the insurance was written in this state or not, including that portion of a group premium paid which represents the premium for insurance on Nebraska residents or risks located in Nebraska included within the group when the number of lives in the group exceeds five hundred. The tax shall also apply to premiums received by domestic companies for insurance written on individuals residing outside this state or risks located outside this state if no comparable tax is paid by the direct writing domestic company to any other appropriate taxing authority. Companies whose scheme of operation contemplates the return of a portion of premiums to policyholders, without such policyholders being claimants under the terms of their policies, may deduct such return premiums or dividends from their gross premiums for the purpose of tax calculations. Any such insurance company shall receive a credit on the tax imposed as provided in the Community Development Assistance Act.

(1) The computation of the taxes as provided in Chapter 77, article 9, shall be made on forms furnished by the Department of Insurance and shall be forwarded to the department together with a sworn statement by an appropriate fiscal officer of the company attesting the accuracy of the tax computation. The department shall furnish such forms to the companies together with any information relative to the taxes as may be needful or desirable. Upon receipt of the tax payment, the director shall audit and examine the computations and satisfy himself or herself that the taxes have been properly paid in conformity with Chapter 77, article 9.

(2) Commencing with taxes imposed for 1985 or any subsequent year, whenever it appears to the satisfaction of the director that, because of a mistake of fact, error in calculation, or erroneous interpretation of a statute not pertaining to the statute's constitutionality, any tax has been erroneously paid to the director, he or she shall have the authority to refund or credit the amount of such erroneous overpayment. The refund or credit may be made by applying such amount towards the payment of other similar taxes already due or which may become due until such overpayment has been fully reimbursed. A claim for refund or credit of an overpayment of a tax caused by a mistake of fact, error in calculation, or erroneous interpretation of a statute not pertaining to the statute's constitutionality shall be filed by the taxpayer within one year from the date the overpayment was made or such claim shall be forever barred.

The director shall rescind or refuse to reissue the license of any company which fails to remit its taxes in conformity with Chapter 77, article 9. Prior to rescinding such license, the director shall issue an order to such company directing the company to show cause why such rescission should not be made. He or she shall in the order give not less than ten days' notice for a hearing before the department. Should the company be aggrieved by such determination, the company may appeal the determination, and the appeal shall be in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.

The Director of Insurance shall transmit fifty percent of the taxes paid in conformity with Chapter 44, article 1, and Chapter 77, article 9, to the State Treasurer, forty percent of such taxes paid to the General Fund, and ten percent of such taxes paid to the Mutual Finance Assistance Fund promptly upon completion of his or her audit and examination and in no event later than May 1 of each year, except that:

(1) All fire insurance taxes paid pursuant to sections 44-150 and 81-523 shall be remitted to the State Treasurer for credit to the General Fund;

(2) All workers' compensation insurance taxes paid pursuant to section 44-150 shall be remitted to the State Treasurer for credit to the Compensation Court Cash Fund; and

(3) Commencing with the premium and related retaliatory taxes for the taxable year ending December 31, 2001, and for each taxable year thereafter, all premium and related retaliatory taxes imposed by section 44-150 or 77-908 paid by insurers writing health insurance in this state shall be remitted to the Comprehensive Health Insurance Pool Distributive Fund.

The Insurance Tax Fund is created. The State Treasurer shall receive the funds paid pursuant to Chapter 77, article 9, and except as provided in sections 77-912 and 77-918 shall keep all money received in the Insurance Tax Fund. Any money in the fund available for investment shall be invested by the state investment officer pursuant to the Nebraska Capital Expansion Act and the Nebraska State Funds Investment Act.

Prior to June 1 of each year, the State Treasurer shall disburse or allocate all of the funds in the Insurance Tax Fund on May 1 of each year as follows:

(1) Ten percent of the total shall be allocated to the counties proportionately in the proportion that the population of each county bears to the entire state, as shown by the last federal decennial census;

(2) Thirty percent of the total shall be allocated to the Municipal Equalization Fund; and

(3) Sixty percent of the total shall be allocated to the State Department of Education for distribution to school districts as equalization aid pursuant to the Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Support Act as follows: The Commissioner of Education shall (a) include the amount certified by the State Treasurer pursuant to this section with the amount appropriated to the Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Fund for distribution in the ensuing school fiscal year, (b) include such amounts in the state aid certified to each school district pursuant to section 79-1022, and (c) distribute such funds as equalization aid under the provisions of the act during the ensuing fiscal year.

(1) Commencing with taxes imposed for 1985 or any subsequent year, if a taxpayer believes any tax imposed pursuant to Chapter 77, article 9, is unconstitutional and chooses to challenge such tax, the taxpayer shall pay the tax under protest and, within thirty days after payment or within thirty days after March 15, 1986, whichever is later, initiate a court challenge to the tax in the district court of Lancaster County, which challenge shall be heard by the district court de novo.

(2) If, by judgment or final order of any court of competent jurisdiction in this state in an action not pending on appeal or error, it is adjudged and determined that such taxes are unconstitutional, such taxes shall be refunded only by applying such refund as a credit against the payment of any such tax falling due thereafter unless special circumstances, as determined by the director, require a refund.

No injunction shall be granted restraining the collection of taxes levied pursuant to Chapter 77, article 9. The provisions of section 77-915 shall be the exclusive remedy available to the taxpayer.

Any political subdivision which has received funds pursuant to section 77-913 shall not be required to return any funds received pursuant to such section resulting from a final order or judgment of a court that such tax is unconstitutional.

Insurers transacting insurance in this state whose annual tax for the preceding taxable year was four thousand dollars or more shall make prepayments of the annual taxes imposed pursuant to Chapter 77, article 9, and related retaliatory taxes imposed pursuant to Chapter 44, article 1.

Each insurer required to make prepayments shall remit such prepayments on or before April 15, June 15, and September 15 of the current taxable year. Remittance for such prepayments shall be accompanied by a prepayment form prescribed by the director.

The amount of each such prepayment shall be at least one-fourth of either (1) the total tax paid for the immediately preceding taxable year or (2) eighty percent of the actual tax due for the current taxable year.

The director, for good cause shown, may extend for not more than ten days the time for making a prepayment. The extension may be granted at any time if a request for such extension is filed with the director within or prior to the period for which the extension may be granted. Insurers who fail to pay any premium or retaliatory tax, including prepayments, when due shall pay interest at the rate prescribed by section 45-104.02, as such rate may from time to time be adjusted, until such tax is paid. Any insurer who fails to make the prepayments within the prescribed time period or to obtain an extension shall be subject to the penalties prescribed in section 77-911.

The director shall immediately deposit one-half of the prepayments received in the Premium and Retaliatory Tax Suspense Fund, which fund is hereby created, and one-half of the prepayments received in the General Fund. Commencing with the premium and related retaliatory taxes for the taxable year ending December 31, 2001, and for each taxable year thereafter, the director shall determine the amount of the premium and related retaliatory taxes imposed by section 44-150 or 77-908 paid by insurers writing health insurance in this state, except as otherwise set forth in subdivisions (1) and (2) of section 77-912, and such amount shall be credited to the Comprehensive Health Insurance Pool Distributive Fund. Except as provided in subsection (5) of section 44-4225, on May 1 of each year the director shall transfer all of the interest earned in the Premium and Retaliatory Tax Suspense Fund on the immediately preceding year's prepayments to the General Fund and transfer the balance of the preceding year's prepayments deposited in the Premium and Retaliatory Tax Suspense Fund to the Insurance Tax Fund. Any money in the Premium and Retaliatory Tax Suspense Fund available for investment shall be invested by the state investment officer pursuant to the Nebraska Capital Expansion Act and the Nebraska State Funds Investment Act.

Sections 77-1001 to 77-1035 shall be known and may be cited as the Nebraska Advantage Transformational Tourism and Redevelopment Act.

The Legislature hereby finds and declares that it is the policy of this state to utilize Nebraska's tax structure in order to encourage new businesses to relocate to Nebraska as a component of a program to develop new tourism attractions as well as to redevelop areas of municipalities which are suffering the effects of age. In addition, the policy of this state is to promote the creation and retention of new jobs in Nebraska and attract and retain Nebraska's best and brightest young people.

For purposes of the Nebraska Advantage Transformational Tourism and Redevelopment Act, the definitions found in sections 77-1004 to 77-1027 shall be used.

Any term shall have the same meaning as used in Chapter 77, article 27.

Approved cost means:

(1) Obligations incurred for labor and to vendors, contractors, subcontractors, builders, suppliers, delivery persons, and material suppliers in connection with the acquisition, construction, equipping, and installation of a project;

(2) The cost of acquiring real property or rights in real property and any cost incidental thereto;

(3) The cost of contract bonds and of insurance of all kinds that may be required or necessary during the course of the acquisition, construction, equipping, and installation of a project which is not paid by the vendor, supplier, delivery person, or contractor or otherwise provided;

(4) The cost of architectural and engineering services, including, but not limited to, estimates, plans, specifications, preliminary investigations, and supervision of construction and installation, as well as for the performance of all the duties required by or consequent to the acquisition, construction, equipping, and installation of a project;

(5) The cost required to be paid under the terms of any contract for the acquisition, construction, equipping, and installation of a project;

(6) The cost required for the installation of utilities, including, but not limited to: Water; sewer; sewer treatment; gas; electricity; and communications, including offsite construction of facilities paid for by the project owner; and

(7) All other costs comparable with those described in this section.

Approved project means any project that is certified by a municipality under the Nebraska Advantage Transformational Tourism and Redevelopment Act.

Cultural development means a real estate development with a primary purpose of promoting cultural education or development, such as a museum or related visual arts centers, performing arts facility, or facilities housing, incubating, developing, or promoting art, music, theater, dance, zoology, botany, natural history, cultural history, or the sciences.

Destination dining means a real estate development primarily selling and serving prepared food and beverage to the public in a setting with sit-down dining. In addition, the development must offer a unique food or experience concept not found in this state within (1) the same metropolitan statistical area as determined by the United States Office of Management and Budget and (2) a fifty-mile radius of the development.

Entertainment destination center means a facility containing a minimum of two hundred thousand square feet of gross leasable area adjacent or complementary to an existing tourism attraction, an approved tourism development project, or a convention facility, and which provides a variety of entertainment and leisure options that contain at least six full-service restaurants and at least three additional entertainment venues, including, but not limited to, live entertainment, multiplex theaters, large-format theaters, motion simulators, family entertainment centers, concert halls, virtual reality or other interactive games, museums, exhibitions, or other cultural and leisure-time activities. Entertainment, food, and drink options and adjacent lodging shall occupy a minimum of sixty percent of the total gross area. Other retail stores shall occupy no more than forty percent of the total gross area.

Entitlement period means the year during which the required increases in employment and investment were met or exceeded and each year thereafter until the end of the ninth year following the year of application.

Full-service restaurant means any public place (1) which is kept, used, maintained, advertised, and held out to the public as a place where meals are served and where meals are actually and regularly served, (2) which has no sleeping accommodations, (3) which has adequate and sanitary kitchen and dining room equipment and capacity and a sufficient number and kind of employees to prepare, cook, and serve suitable food for its guests to consume on premise, and (4) which has wait staff and table service with an average per-table bill of at least fifteen dollars.

Historical redevelopment means a real estate development project that redevelops a historic building, as listed on either the National Register of Historic Places or the Nebraska Historic Buildings Survey. The reuse of the historic building can be any approved use, including retail for an entertainment destination center or a mixed-use project.

Investment means the value of qualified property incorporated into or used at the project. For qualified property owned by the taxpayer, the value shall be the original cost of the property. Investment does not include real property for a tourism development project.

(1) Lodging means any lodging facility with the following attributes:

(a) The facility constitutes a portion of an approved project and represents less than fifty percent of the total approved cost of the tourism attraction project, or the facility is to be located on recreational property owned or leased by the state or the federal government and has received prior approval from the appropriate state or federal agency;

(b) The facility utilizes a historical redevelopment; or

(c) The facility involves the construction, reconstruction, restoration, rehabilitation, or upgrade of a full-service lodging facility having not less than two hundred fifty guestrooms, with reconstruction, restoration, rehabilitation, or upgrade costs exceeding the minimum. The hotel facilities or attached conference facility must also include a minimum of fifteen thousand square feet of net function space, including exhibit space, ballrooms, meeting rooms, or lecture halls.

(2) Lodging includes a lodging facility constructed as part of a development prior to the construction of retail development or a tourism attraction under the Nebraska Advantage Transformational Tourism and Redevelopment Act.

Mixed-use project means a facility containing a minimum of fifty thousand square feet. The project must include at least two vertical stories of usable or leasable space and contain a minimum of two uses, such as restaurant, office, retail, or residential, not including parking. Retail stores shall occupy no more than forty percent of the total gross usable area.

Nebraska crafts and products center means a real estate retail development primarily selling products created, grown, or assembled in Nebraska. Nebraska crafts and products must constitute a minimum of fifty percent of the total sales volume of the development.

Project means the acquisition, including the acquisition of real estate by a leasehold interest with a minimum term of ten years, construction, and equipping of a tourism attraction or redevelopment project; the construction and installation of improvements to facilities necessary or desirable for the acquisition, construction, and installation of a tourism attraction or redevelopment project, including, but not limited to, surveys; installation of utilities which may include water, sewer, sewage treatment, gas, electricity, communications, and similar facilities; and offsite construction of utility extensions to the boundaries of the real estate on which the facilities are located, all of which are to be used to improve the economic situation of the approved company in a manner that allows the approved company to attract persons.

(1) For a tourism development project, qualified business means any business engaged in:

(a) Cultural development;

(b) Historical redevelopment;

(c) Recreation facilities;

(d) Entertainment destination centers;

(e) Lodging;

(f) Destination dining;

(g) Tourism attraction;

(h) Nebraska crafts and products center; or

(i) Any combination of the activities listed in this subsection.

(2) For a redevelopment project, qualified business means any business engaged in:

(a) Cultural development;

(b) Historical redevelopment;

(c) Recreation facilities;

(d) Entertainment destination centers;

(e) Mixed-use projects;

(f) Lodging;

(g) Full-service restaurants or destination dining;

(h) Residential development;

(i) Retail development;

(j) Structured parking;

(k) Tourism attraction;

(l) Nebraska crafts and products center; or

(m) Any combination of the activities listed in this subsection.

(1) Qualified property means any tangible property of a type subject to depreciation, amortization, or other recovery under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the components of such property, that will be located and used at the project.

(2) Qualified property does not include (a) aircraft, barges, motor vehicles, railroad rolling stock, or watercraft or (b) property that is rented by the taxpayer qualifying under the Nebraska Advantage Transformational Tourism and Redevelopment Act to another person.

Recreation facility means any real estate project with a primary purpose of promoting and hosting sports or recreation activities, including sports facilities, golf courses, beaches, parks, water parks, amusement parks, and related support amenities.

Redevelopment project means a project proposed on a parcel or parcels previously developed with real property improvements. Current usage cannot include agriculture or livestock. The redevelopment project must be within the municipal limits of a municipality. The existing improvements must be more than ten years old or have been demolished prior to application.

Related persons means any corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, or joint ventures which are or would otherwise be members of the same unitary group, if incorporated, or any persons who are considered to be related persons under either section 267(b) and (c) or section 707(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Structured parking means a real estate development used primarily as a covered parking facility for automobiles or related personal vehicles. The parking facility must have a minimum of two levels of parking above or below ground.

(1) Taxpayer means any person subject to sales and use taxes under the Nebraska Revenue Act of 1967 and subject to withholding under section 77-2753 and any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, cooperative, including a cooperative exempt under section 521 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, limited cooperative association, or joint venture that is or would otherwise be a member of the same unitary group, if incorporated, that is subject to such sales and use taxes or such withholding.

(2) Taxpayer does not include a political subdivision or an organization that is exempt from income taxes under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any partnership, limited liability company, cooperative, including a cooperative exempt under section 521 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, limited cooperative association, or joint venture in which political subdivisions or organizations described in section 501(c) or (d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, hold an ownership interest of ten percent or more.

Tourism attraction means a place of interest where tourists visit, typically for the inherent or exhibited cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, or amusement opportunities, such as historical places, monuments, zoos, aquaria, museums, art galleries, botanical gardens, skyscrapers, parks, forests, natural recreation areas, theme parks, ethnic enclaves, historic transportation, and landmarks.

Year means the taxable year of the taxpayer.

Year of application means the year that a completed application is filed under the Nebraska Advantage Transformational Tourism and Redevelopment Act.

The powers granted by the Nebraska Advantage Transformational Tourism and Redevelopment Act shall not be exercised unless and until the question of directing the proceeds of the local option sales tax as authorized under the act has been submitted at a primary, general, or special election held within the municipality and in which all registered voters are entitled to vote on such question. The officials of the municipality shall order the submission of the question by submitting a certified copy of the resolution proposing the tax to the election commissioner or county clerk. The question may include any terms and conditions set forth in the resolution, such as a termination date, and shall include the following language: Shall the municipality direct the local option sales tax collected within an area defined by the municipality to require redevelopment or as a tourism development project for the benefit of that area? If a majority of the votes cast upon the question are in favor, the governing body may so direct the tax. If a majority of those voting on the question are opposed, the governing body shall not so direct the tax. Once approved, the municipality may exercise the powers granted by the act for a period of ten years. Any election under this section shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures provided in the Election Act.

A municipality shall not approve or grant to any person any incentive under the Nebraska Advantage Transformational Tourism and Redevelopment Act unless the taxpayer provides evidence satisfactory to the municipality that the taxpayer electronically verified the work eligibility status of all newly hired employees employed in Nebraska.

(1) In order to utilize the incentives set forth in the Nebraska Advantage Transformational Tourism and Redevelopment Act, the taxpayer shall file an application, on a form developed by an association of municipalities organized statewide, requesting an agreement.

(2) The application shall contain:

(a) A written statement describing the plan of employment and investment for a qualified business in this state;

(b) Sufficient documents, plans, and specifications as required by the municipality to support the plan and to define a project and a feasibility study. The plans shall include evidence that demonstrates that the project is feasible only with the incentives provided by the act;

(c) A nonrefundable application fee of two thousand five hundred dollars; and

(d) A timetable showing the expected local option sales tax refunds and what year they are expected to be claimed.

The application and all supporting information shall be confidential except for the name of the taxpayer, the location of the project, and the amounts of increased employment and investment.

(3) An application must be complete to establish the date of the application. An application shall be considered complete once it contains the items listed in subsection (2) of this section, regardless of the municipality's additional needs pertaining to information or clarification in order to approve or not approve the application.

(4) The municipality shall conduct an internal review of the feasibility study. If the municipality determines that the feasibility study demonstrates that the project can meet the requirements of the act, then the municipality shall conduct its own study with an independent third party, the cost of which shall be paid in full by the applicant. The cost of the study required under this subsection shall be in addition to the fee required under subsection (2) of this section. The purpose of the study is to verify or nullify the results of the feasibility study provided by the applicant. Additionally, the study shall examine the ability of the applicant to meet the requirements of the act. The study shall make a recommendation to the municipality on whether to proceed with the project or not.

(5) Once satisfied that the plan in the application defines a project consistent with the purposes stated in the Nebraska Advantage Transformational Tourism and Redevelopment Act in one or more qualified business activities within this state, that the taxpayer and the plan will qualify for incentives under the act, and that the required levels of employment and investment for the project will be met prior to the end of the fourth year after the year in which the application was submitted, the municipality shall certify the application. Certification shall require approval by a majority vote by the members of the governing body of the municipality.

(6) After certification, the taxpayer and the municipality shall enter into a written agreement. The taxpayer shall agree to complete the project, and the municipality shall designate the approved plan of the taxpayer as a project and, in consideration of the taxpayer's agreement, agree to allow the taxpayer to use the incentives contained in the Nebraska Advantage Transformational Tourism and Redevelopment Act. The application, and all supporting documentation, to the extent approved, shall be considered a part of the agreement. The agreement shall state:

(a) The levels of employment and investment required by the act for the project;

(b) The time period under the act in which the required levels must be met;

(c) The documentation the taxpayer will need to supply when claiming an incentive under the act;

(d) The date the application was filed; and

(e) A requirement that the company update the municipality annually on any changes in plans or circumstances which affect the timetable of local option sales tax refunds as set out in the application. If the company fails to comply with this requirement, the municipality may defer any pending local option sales tax refunds until the company does comply.

(7) A taxpayer and a municipality may enter into agreements for more than one project and may include more than one project in a single agreement. The projects may be either sequential or concurrent. A project may involve the same location as another project. No new employment or new investment shall be included in more than one project for either the meeting of the employment or investment requirements or the creation of incentives. When projects overlap and the plans do not clearly specify, then the taxpayer shall specify in which project the employment or investment belongs.

(8) The taxpayer may request that an agreement be modified if the modification is consistent with the purposes of the act and does not require a change in the description of the project. Once satisfied that the modification to the agreement is consistent with the purposes stated in the act, the municipality and taxpayer may amend the agreement.

(9) The agreement shall include performance-based metrics to insure compliance with the act.

(1) Applicants may qualify for incentives under the Nebraska Advantage Transformational Tourism and Redevelopment Act as follows:

(a)(i) Tourism development project, investment in qualified property as required by this subdivision and a net employment increase to the state. Net employment from the project shall be determined at stabilization of the project, typically by the third year, and shall include any lost jobs from semi-competitive venues.

(ii) The investment requirement for a tourism development project is as follows:

(A) Tier 1, fifty million dollars exclusive of land for a project located in a municipality within a county in which the net taxable sales in the preceding calendar year were at least nine hundred million dollars or a municipality within a county bordered by two counties in which the total net taxable sales in the preceding calendar year were at least nine hundred million dollars;

(B) Tier 2, thirty million dollars exclusive of land for a project in a municipality within a county in which the net taxable sales in the preceding calendar year were at least two hundred million dollars but less than nine hundred million dollars;

(C) Tier 3, twenty million dollars exclusive of land for a project in a municipality within a county in which the net taxable sales in the preceding calendar year were at least one hundred million dollars but less than two hundred million dollars; and

(D) Tier 4, ten million dollars exclusive of land for a project in a municipality within a county in which the net taxable sales in the preceding calendar year were less than one hundred million dollars.

(iii) All complete project applications shall be considered by the municipality and certified if the project and taxpayer qualify for incentives. Agreements may be executed with regard to completed project applications. A tourism development project shall be unique and not duplicate any other qualified business in this state within (A) the same metropolitan statistical area as determined by the United States Office of Management and Budget and (B) a fifty-mile radius of the project; and

(b) Redevelopment project, investment in qualified property of at least ten million dollars and a net employment increase to the state, except that for a redevelopment project in a municipality within a county in which the net taxable sales in the preceding calendar year were less than one hundred million dollars, the requirements shall be investment in qualified property of at least seven million five hundred thousand dollars and a net employment increase to the state. Net employment from the project shall be determined by comparing the impact of the project to the impact of not having the project. Agreements may be executed with regard to completed project applications.

(2) In addition to the requirements of subsection (1) of this section:

(a) The project shall be open at least one hundred fifty days each calendar year;

(b) The applicant shall demonstrate that the project is not feasible but for the incentives provided under the act; and

(c) The applicant shall demonstrate that the project has conditional financing prior to completion of the application and final approval of financing before final approval of the application by the municipality.

(3) When the taxpayer has met the requirements contained in the agreement for the project, the taxpayer shall be entitled to the following incentives:

(a) A refund of local option sales tax up to a rate of one and one-half percent from the date of the application through the meeting of the requirements contained in the agreement for the project for all purchases, including rentals, of:

(i) Qualified property used as a part of the project;

(ii) Property, excluding motor vehicles, based in this state and used in both this state and another state in connection with the project except when any such property is to be used for fundraising for or for the transportation of an elected official;

(iii) Tangible personal property by the owner of the improvement to real estate that is incorporated into real estate as a part of a project; and

(iv) Tangible personal property by a contractor or repairperson after appointment as a purchasing agent of the owner of the improvement to real estate;

(b) Except as provided in subdivision (c) of this subsection for redevelopment projects, a refund of local option sales tax up to a rate of one and one-half percent paid on all types of purchases on which the local option sales tax is levied within the boundaries of the project during each year of the entitlement period in which the taxpayer meets the requirements contained in the agreement for the project; and

(c) For a redevelopment project, if the taxpayer has been collecting local option sales tax for more than twenty-four months prior to completion of the project, a refund of the increase in local option sales tax revenue collected by the taxpayer within the boundaries of the project each calendar year after the completion of the project.

(1) The Department of Revenue shall contract with an independent consultant to review each project under the Nebraska Advantage Transformational Tourism and Redevelopment Act every fifth year following July 15, 2010. The review shall be paid for by each project owner. The review shall examine patronage from outside the metropolitan statistical area as defined by the United States Office of Management and Budget in which the project is located, sales data, and employment records to determine the project owner's continued compliance with the provisions of the act. The project owner shall comply with the provisions of this subsection or be subject to the recapture provisions of this section. If it is determined that the project owner was not in compliance, the municipality may recapture all or a portion of the incentives provided under the act.

(2) If the taxpayer fails to meet the requirements contained in the agreement for the project either by the end of the fourth year after the end of the year the application was submitted or for the entire entitlement period, all or a portion of the incentives provided under the act shall be recaptured on behalf of the municipality.

(3) Notwithstanding any other limitations contained in the laws of this state, collection of any taxes deemed to be underpayments by this section shall be allowed for a period of four years after the end of the entitlement period.

(4) Any amounts due under this section shall be recaptured notwithstanding other allowable incentives and shall not be subsequently refunded under any provision of the act unless the recapture was in error.

(5) The recapture required by this section shall not occur if (a) the failure to maintain the required levels of employment or investment was caused by an act of God or national emergency or (b) the cost of recapture would exceed the amount to be recaptured in the opinion of the municipality.

(6) The Nebraska Advantage Transformational Tourism and Redevelopment Act Cash Fund is created. The fund shall be used by the department to carry out its duties under this section. Any money in the fund available for investment shall be invested by the state investment officer pursuant to the Nebraska Capital Expansion Act and the Nebraska State Funds Investment Act.

(1) The incentives allowed under the Nebraska Advantage Transformational Tourism and Redevelopment Act may be transferred when a project covered by an agreement is transferred in its entirety by sale or lease to another taxpayer or in an acquisition of assets qualifying under section 381 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(2) The acquiring taxpayer, as of the date of notification of the municipality of the completed transfer, shall be entitled to any future incentives allowable under the act.

(3) The acquiring taxpayer shall be liable for any recapture that becomes due after the date of the transfer for the repayment of any incentives received either before or after the transfer.

Interest shall not be allowable on any refunds paid because of incentives earned under the Nebraska Advantage Transformational Tourism and Redevelopment Act.

The Nebraska Advantage Transformational Tourism and Redevelopment Act may not be used for the construction or financing of a stadium or for support facilities for a stadium.

All tangible personal property in this state subject to taxation shall be assessed as of January 1 at 12:01 a.m., which assessment shall be used as a basis of taxation until the next assessment. A complete list of all taxable tangible personal property held or owned on the assessment date shall be made as follows:

(1) Every person shall list all his or her taxable tangible personal property as defined in section 77-105 having tax situs in the State of Nebraska;

(2) The taxable tangible personal property of a minor child shall be listed by the following: (a) His or her guardian; (b) if he or she has no guardian, by his or her parent, if living; and (c) if neither parent is living, by the person having such property in charge;

(3) The taxable tangible personal property of any other person under guardianship, by his or her guardian or, if he or she has no guardian, by the person having charge of such property;

(4) The taxable tangible personal property of a person for whose benefit it is held in trust, by the trustee, and of the estate of a deceased person, by the personal representative or administrator;

(5) The taxable tangible personal property of corporations the assets of which are in the hands of a receiver, by such a receiver;

(6) The taxable tangible personal property of corporations, by the president or the proper agent or officer thereof;

(7) The taxable tangible personal property of a firm or company, by a partner, limited liability company member, or agent thereof;

(8) The taxable tangible personal property of manufacturers and others in the hands of an agent, by and in the name of such agent; and

(9) All leased taxable tangible personal property shall be reported, by itemizing each article, by lessor as owner or lessee as agent.

Taxable tangible personal property shall be listed and assessed where it has acquired tax situs as defined in section 77-125.

In preparing the tax list, each county assessor shall enter in a separate column, opposite the name of each person, the person's post office address and the number of the school and road districts in which the taxable tangible personal property of such person is assessable.

Taxable tangible personal property in transit shall be listed and assessed in the tax district where the owner resides, but if such property is intended for a business, it shall be listed and assessed in the tax district where the property of such business is required to be listed.

When any person brings taxable tangible personal property into this state or into one county thereof from another county after 12:01 a.m. on January 1 and prior to July 1 in any year, it shall be the duty of the owner, within thirty days after July 1, to list and return such property for taxation for the current tax year unless he or she shows to the county assessor under oath and by producing a copy of the listing or assessment duly certified to by the proper officer of the state or county that the property was listed for taxation for the current tax year in some other county in this state or in some other state or territory of the United States or that such property has been received by him or her in exchange for money or property already listed for taxation for the current tax year. The county assessor shall at once assess such property and shall enter the same on the tax roll.

It shall be the duty of any county assessor, sheriff, constable, city council member, and village trustee to at once inform the county treasurer of the making or attempted making of any sale, levy of attachment, or removal of taxable tangible personal property known to him or her. It shall be the duty of the county treasurer to forthwith proceed with the collection of the tax when such acts become known to him or her in any manner. Any personal property tax shall be due and collectible, including all taxable tangible personal property then assessed upon which the tax shall be computed on the basis of the last preceding levy, and a distress warrant shall be issued when (1) any person attempts to sell all or a substantial part of his or her taxable tangible personal property, (2) a levy of attachment is made upon taxable tangible personal property, or (3) a person attempts to remove or removes taxable tangible personal property from the county.

It shall be the duty of the county assessor, when required by any person, to give a certificate of assessment of taxable tangible personal property showing the amount, kind, location, and net book value of the property assessed, and such certificate shall be evidence of the legal assessment of such property for the year.

(1) Every person required by section 77-1201 to list and value taxable tangible personal property shall list such property upon the forms prescribed by the Tax Commissioner. The forms shall be available from the county assessor and when completed shall be signed by each person or his or her agent and be filed with the county assessor. The forms shall be filed on or before May 1 of each year.

(2) Any person seeking a personal property exemption pursuant to subsection (2) of section 77-4105 or the Nebraska Advantage Act shall annually file a copy of the forms required pursuant to section 77-4105 or the act with the county assessor in each county in which the person is requesting exemption. The copy shall be filed on or before May 1. Failure to timely file the required forms shall cause the forfeiture of the exemption for the tax year. If a taxpayer pursuant to this subsection also has taxable tangible personal property, such property shall be listed and valued as required under subsection (1) of this section.

If any listing of personal property required to be filed under section 77-1229 is filed by or on behalf of any person and is not signed as required by law, the county assessor shall notify the person in writing of the fact of such filing and that he or she is required, on or before the last date for filing the statement or within ten days from the date of such notice, whichever is later, to appear and sign such statement or to file a properly signed corrected statement and that, upon failure to do so, the unsigned statement shall be presumed to be correct.

(1) Whenever a person files an amended federal income tax return or whenever a person's return is changed or corrected by the Internal Revenue Service or other competent authority and the amendment, change, or correction affects the Nebraska adjusted basis of the person's taxable tangible personal property, such person shall file an amended list of taxable tangible personal property subject to taxation with the county assessor. The person shall file the amended list within ninety days after the filing of the amended federal return or within ninety days after the date the change or correction becomes final.

(2) Within the same tax year or the three previous tax years, a person may file an amended list of taxable tangible personal property subject to taxation upon discovery of errors or omissions on his or her filed list.

(3) If an amended list of taxable tangible personal property subject to taxation is filed, the county assessor shall accept or reject the proposed amendment within fifteen days after filing. The county assessor shall notify the person, on a form prescribed by the Property Tax Administrator, of the action taken, the penalty, if any, and the rate of interest. The notice shall also state the person's appeal rights and appeal procedures, which shall be the same as provided in section 77-1233.06. Such notice shall be given by first-class mail addressed to such person's last-known address.

(4) Whenever changes are made to a taxable tangible personal property return pursuant to this section, the county assessor shall correct the assessment roll and tax list, if necessary, to reflect such changes.

(5) If the amendment, change, or correction results in taxable tangible personal property becoming exempt or reduces the net book value of the property for an income tax year, a refund shall be paid pursuant to section 77-1734.01.

(6) If the amendment, change, or correction results in an increase in the net book value of the taxable tangible personal property or makes other tangible personal property taxable, the county assessor shall compute the additional tax due, along with interest, based on the amended listing. Interest shall be computed from the dates the tax would have been delinquent if the property had been listed on or before May 1 of the appropriate year. If the amended listing is filed within the ninety-day period, no additional penalties shall be added. If the listing is not filed within the ninety-day period, the property shall be subject to a penalty pursuant to subsection (4) of section 77-1233.04.

Any person who makes a false or fraudulent list, schedule, or statement required by law or willfully fails or refuses to deliver to the assessor a list of the taxable tangible personal property which by law is required to be listed, or temporarily converts any part of such property into property not taxable, for the fraudulent purpose of preventing such property from being listed and of evading the payment of taxes thereon, or transfers or transmits any property to any person with such intent, shall be guilty of a Class IV misdemeanor for any such offense committed for any tax year prior to tax year 1993 and a Class II misdemeanor for any such offense committed for tax year 1993 or thereafter.

Each schedule or statement required by law to be filed with respect to taxation of personal property shall have the following printed thereon and signed by the taxpayer or his agent:

Taxpayer or Agent— declare that this (schedule or return) and any accompanying schedule and statements have been examined by me and to the best of my knowledge and belief are a true, correct, and complete return.

The county assessor with the aid of his or her deputy and assistants shall carefully examine, check, and verify all taxable tangible personal property tax returns. The assessor may make such investigation, examination, and inspection of the property set out in a return and examine under oath the person making the return as to his or her books, records, and papers in order to enable the assessor to determine that all taxable tangible personal property of the taxpayer is listed for taxation at its net book value.

The county assessor shall have general supervision over and direction of the assessment of all personal property in his or her county. He or she shall advise and instruct all deputies and assistants as to their duties and shall require of them that the assessment of property be uniform throughout the county and that property be assessed as directed by law.

The county assessor may, in extending a value on any item of taxable tangible personal property, reject all values that fall below two dollars and fifty cents and extend all values of two dollars and fifty cents or more to the next higher five dollars or multiples thereof, making all valuations end in zero or five.

(1) The county assessor shall list and value at net book value any item of taxable tangible personal property omitted from a personal property return of any taxpayer. The county assessor shall change the reported valuation of any item of taxable tangible personal property listed on the return to conform the valuation to net book value. If a taxpayer fails or refuses to file a personal property return, the assessor shall, on behalf of the taxpayer, file a personal property return which shall list and value all of the taxpayer's taxable tangible personal property at net book value. The county assessor shall list or change the valuation of any item of taxable tangible personal property for the current taxing period and the three previous taxing periods or any taxing period included therein.

(2) The taxable tangible personal property so listed and valued shall be taxed at the same rate as would have been imposed upon the property in the tax district in which the property should have been returned for taxation.

(3) Any valuation added to a personal property return or added through the filing of a personal property return, after May 1 and on or before July 31 of the year the property is required to be reported, shall be subject to a penalty of ten percent of the tax due on the value added.

(4) Any valuation added to a personal property return or added through the filing of a personal property return, on or after August 1 of the year the property is required to be reported, shall be subject to a penalty of twenty-five percent of the tax due on the value added.

(5) Interest shall be assessed upon both the tax and the penalty at the rate specified in section 45-104.01, as such rate may from time to time be adjusted by the Legislature, from the date the tax would have been delinquent until paid.

(6) Whenever valuation changes are made to a personal property return or a personal property return is filed pursuant to this section, the county assessor shall correct the assessment roll and tax list, if necessary, to reflect such changes. Such corrections shall be made for the current taxing period and the three previous taxing periods or any taxing period included therein. If the change results in a decreased taxable valuation on the personal property return and the personal property tax has been paid prior to a correction pursuant to this section, the taxpayer may request a refund of the tax in the same manner prescribed in section 77-1734.01, except that such request shall be made within three years after the date the tax was due.

For purposes of section 77-1233.04:

(1) The county assessor shall notify the taxpayer, on a form prescribed by the Tax Commissioner, of the action taken, the penalty, and the rate of interest. The notice shall also state the taxpayer's appeal rights and the appeal procedures. Such notice shall be given by first-class mail addressed to such taxpayer's last-known address. The entire penalty and interest shall be waived if the omission or failure to report any item of taxable tangible personal property was for the reason that the property was timely reported in the wrong tax district;

(2) The taxpayer may appeal the action of the county assessor, either as to the valuation or the penalties imposed, to the county board of equalization within thirty days after the date of notice. The taxpayer shall preserve his or her appeal by filing a written appeal with the county clerk in the same manner as prescribed for protests in section 77-1502. The action of the county assessor shall become final unless a written appeal is filed within the time prescribed;

(3) The action of the county board of equalization, in an appeal of the penalties imposed, shall be limited to correcting penalties which were wrongly imposed or incorrectly calculated. The county board of equalization shall have no authority to waive or reduce any penalty which was correctly imposed and calculated. The entire penalty and interest on the penalty shall be waived if the omission or failure to report any item of taxable tangible personal property was for the reason that the property was timely reported in the wrong tax district;

(4) Upon ten days' notice to the taxpayer, the county board of equalization shall set a date for hearing the appeal of the taxpayer. The county board of equalization shall make its determination on the appeal within thirty days after the date of hearing. The county clerk shall, within seven days after the determination of the county board, send notice to the taxpayer and the county assessor, on forms prescribed by the Tax Commissioner, of the action of the county board. Appeal may be taken within thirty days after the decision of the county board of equalization to the Tax Equalization and Review Commission; and

(5) Taxes and penalties assessed for the current year, if not delinquent, shall be certified to the county treasurer and collected as if the property had been properly reported for taxation, except that separate tax statements may be mailed. Taxes and penalties assessed for the current year, if delinquent, and taxes and penalties assessed for prior years shall be certified to the county treasurer, and the taxes, penalties, and interest thereon shall be due and collectible immediately upon certification. Collection procedures shall be started immediately regardless of the provisions of any other statute to the contrary.

It shall be the duty of the county boards and county assessors to notify the county attorney of the proper county of all willful violations of the provisions with respect to listing of taxable tangible personal property for taxation known to them or any of them.

For the purpose of determining the net book value of any property, the county assessor shall have the right to demand of the owner or his or her agent or employee an inspection of the following for the year preceding assessment: Inventories; all books of accounts; depreciation schedules filed with the Internal Revenue Service; and workpapers, worksheets, or any other item prepared by or for a taxpayer and not filed with the Internal Revenue Service. If the owner, agent, or employee refuses such demand, the county assessor shall have authority to issue subpoenas to compel the appearance of such owner or agent and employee, together with such papers, books, accounts, and documents as the county assessor may deem necessary, and at such time the county assessor may administer oaths and take testimony. In case of disobedience on the part of any person to comply with any subpoena issued by or on behalf of the county assessor or of the refusal of any witness to testify on any matters regarding which he or she may be lawfully interrogated, it shall be the duty of the district court for any county or of the judge thereof, on application by the county assessor, to compel obedience by proceedings for contempt as in the case of disobedience of the requirements of a subpoena issued from such court or a refusal to testify therein.

All documentation provided by the owner or owner's agent or employee pursuant to this section shall be confidential and available to taxing officials only.

As used in sections 77-1244 to 77-1246:

(1) The term air carrier means any person, firm, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, association, trustee, receiver, or assignee and all other persons, whether or not in a representative capacity, undertaking to engage in the carriage of persons or cargo for hire by aircraft. Any air carrier as herein defined engaged solely in intrastate transportation, whose flight equipment is based at only one airport within the state, shall be excepted from taxation under this section, but shall be subject to taxation in the same manner as other locally assessed property;

(2) The term aircraft arrivals and departures means (a) the number of scheduled landings and takeoffs of the aircraft of an air carrier, (b) the number of scheduled air pickups and deliveries by the aircraft of such carrier, and (c) in the case of nonscheduled operations, shall include all landings and takeoffs, pickups, and deliveries;

(3) The term flight equipment means aircraft fully equipped for flight and used within the continental limits of the United States;

(4) The term originating revenue means revenue to an air carrier from the transportation of revenue passengers and revenue cargo exclusive of the revenue derived from the transportation of express or mail; and

(5) The term revenue tons handled by an air carrier means the weight in tons of revenue passengers and revenue cargo received and discharged as originating or terminating traffic.

Any tax upon or measured by the value of flight equipment of air carriers incorporated or doing business in this state shall be assessed, collected by the Property Tax Administrator, and disbursed as provided in section 77-1250. The proportion of flight equipment allocated to this state for purposes of taxation shall be the arithmetical average of the following three ratios: (1) The ratio which the aircraft arrivals and departures within this state scheduled by such air carrier during the preceding calendar year bears to the total aircraft arrivals and departures within and without this state scheduled by such carrier during the same period, except that in the case of nonscheduled operations all arrivals and departures shall be substituted for scheduled arrivals and departures; (2) the ratio which the revenue tons handled by such air carrier at airports within this state during the preceding calendar year bears to the total revenue tons handled by such carrier at airports within and without this state during the same period; and (3) the ratio which such air carrier's originating revenue within this state for the preceding calendar year bears to the total originating revenue of such carrier within and without this state for the same period.

If allocation in accordance with the provisions of this section does not fairly represent the proportion of flight equipment properly allocable to this state, the taxpayer may petition for, or the Property Tax Administrator may require, the inclusion of one or more additional ratios or the employment of any other method to effectuate an equitable allocation of the taxpayer's flight equipment for purposes of taxation.

Real property and personal property, except flight equipment, of an air carrier shall be taxed in the political subdivisions of the state in accordance with the applicable laws of this state.

(1) Each air carrier, as defined in section 77-1244, shall on or before June 1 in each year make to the Property Tax Administrator a report, in such form as may be prescribed by the Tax Commissioner, containing the information necessary to determine the value of its flight equipment and the proportion allocated to this state for purposes of taxation as provided in section 77-1246. For good cause shown, the Property Tax Administrator may allow an extension of time in which to file such report. Such extension shall not exceed thirty days after June 1.

(2) For each day's failure to furnish the report required by subsection (1) of this section or for each day's failure to furnish the information as required on the report, the air carrier may be assessed a penalty in the amount of one hundred dollars, except that the penalty shall not exceed ten thousand dollars. Such penalty shall be collected by the Tax Commissioner and credited to the Department of Revenue Property Assessment Division Cash Fund. The Tax Commissioner, in his or her discretion, may waive all or part of the penalty provided in this section.

The Property Tax Administrator shall ascertain from the reports made and from any other information obtained by him or her the taxable value of the flight equipment of air carriers and the proportion allocated to this state for the purposes of taxation as provided in section 77-1245.

The Property Tax Administrator shall, on or before January 15 each year, establish a tax rate for purposes of taxation against the taxable value as provided in section 77-1248 at a rate which shall be equal to the total property taxes levied in the state divided by the total taxable value of all taxable property in the state as certified pursuant to section 77-1613.01. The date when such tax rate is determined shall be deemed to be the levy date for the property. The Property Tax Administrator shall send to each air carrier a statement showing the taxable value, the tax rate, and the amount of the tax and a statement that the tax is due and payable to the Property Tax Administrator on January 31 next following the levy thereof. If an air carrier feels aggrieved, such carrier may, on or before February 15, file an appeal with the Tax Commissioner. The Tax Commissioner shall act upon the appeal and shall issue a written order mailed to the carrier within seven days after the date of the order. The order may be appealed within thirty days after the date of the order to the Tax Equalization and Review Commission in accordance with section 77-5013.

One-half of the taxes levied and due under sections 77-1249 and 77-1250 shall become delinquent March 1, and the second half on July 1, next following the date the tax has become due.

All delinquent taxes shall draw interest from the date they become delinquent at a rate equal to the maximum rate of interest allowed per annum under section 45-104.01, as such rate may from time to time be adjusted by the Legislature, and the interest shall be collected and distributed the same as the tax on which the interest accrues. If such taxes and interest due thereon shall not have been paid on July 1 following the levy thereof, the Tax Commissioner shall collect the same by distress and sale of any property belonging to such delinquent person in like manner as required of county treasurers and county sheriffs in like cases.

The tax levied pursuant to section 77-1249 shall, on January 31 next following the date of levy, be a first lien from that date on the personal property, both tangible and intangible, of the person assessed until the liability is satisfied or otherwise released or discharged. Such lien shall be filed and enforced pursuant to the Uniform State Tax Lien Registration and Enforcement Act. The Property Tax Administrator shall remit the tax paid to the State Treasurer, and the tax collected, less a three percent collection fee, shall be distributed to the counties to the credit of the county general fund proportionate to the amount the total property taxes levied in the county bears to the total property taxes levied in the state as a whole, as certified pursuant to section 77-1613.01. The collection fee shall be credited by the State Treasurer to the Department of Revenue Property Assessment Division Cash Fund.

The owner, lessee, or manager of any aircraft hangar or land upon which is parked or located any aircraft as defined by section 3-101 shall report by February 1 of each year to the county assessor in the county in which such aircraft hangar or land is located all aircraft as defined by section 3-101 located thereon in such hangar or on such land as of January 1 of each year on a form prescribed by the Tax Commissioner. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars.

If any taxes levied on air carriers as defined in section 77-1244 and interest and penalties due thereon shall not have been paid on July 1, following the levy thereof, the total amount shall be a lien in favor of the State of Nebraska upon all money and credits belonging to such air carriers until the liability therefor is satisfied or otherwise released or discharged, and it shall be lawful for the Tax Commissioner or his or her designated agent to collect such total amount by issuing a distress warrant and making levy upon all money and credits belonging to such air carriers. Such lien shall be filed and enforced pursuant to the Uniform State Tax Lien Registration and Enforcement Act.

Any person or corporation in possession of any such money and credits belonging to air carriers as defined in section 77-1244 upon which levy has been made shall, upon demand of the Tax Commissioner or his or her agent, surrender the same to the Tax Commissioner or his or her agent. If any person or corporation fails or refuses to surrender the same in accordance with the requirements of this section, such person shall be liable to the State of Nebraska in a sum equal to the value of the property or rights not so surrendered but not exceeding the amount of the taxes, interest, and penalties for the collection of which such levy has been made.

The money realized from any levy under sections 77-1250.03 and 77-1250.04 shall be first applied by the Tax Commissioner toward payment of any costs incurred by virtue of such levy and next to the payment of such taxes, interest, and penalties, and any balance remaining shall then be paid over to the person entitled thereto.

(1) All real property in this state subject to taxation shall be assessed as of January 1 at 12:01 a.m., which assessment shall be used as a basis of taxation until the next assessment.

(2) Beginning January 1, 2014, in any county with a population of at least one hundred fifty thousand inhabitants according to the most recent federal decennial census, the county assessor shall provide notice of preliminary valuations to real property owners on or before January 15 of each year. Such notice shall be (a) mailed to the taxpayer or (b) published on a web site maintained by the county assessor or by the county.

(3) The county assessor shall complete the assessment of real property on or before March 19 of each year, except beginning January 1, 2014, in any county with a population of at least one hundred fifty thousand inhabitants according to the most recent federal decennial census, the county assessor shall complete the assessment of real property on or before March 25 of each year.

The Tax Commissioner shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to establish standards for the appraisal of classes or subclasses of real property in a county. The standards established shall require that the appraisal shall be based upon the use of manuals developed pursuant to section 77-1330 and shall arrive at a determination of taxable value on a consistent basis in accordance with the methods prescribed in sections 77-112 and 77-201. The Tax Commissioner shall also establish standards for appraisal contracts which shall, among other provisions, require that all such contracts shall require the use of manuals developed pursuant to section 77-1330. No appraisal contract shall be valid until approved in writing by the Tax Commissioner.

(1) On or before March 19 of each year, the county assessor or county clerk shall make up an assessment roll of the taxable real property in the county, except beginning January 1, 2014, in any county with a population of at least one hundred fifty thousand inhabitants according to the most recent federal decennial census, the county assessor or county clerk shall make up an assessment roll of the taxable real property in the county on or before March 25.

(2) The county assessor or county clerk shall enter in the proper column, opposite each respective parcel, the name of the owner thereof so far as he or she is able to ascertain the same. The assessment roll shall contain columns in which may be shown the number of acres or lots and the value thereof, the improvements and the value thereof, the total value of the acres or lots and improvements, and the improvements on leased lands and the value and owner thereof and such other columns as may be required.

The county assessor, when requested by any person, shall give a certificate of assessment of real property showing the amount, kind, location, and taxable value of property assessed, and such certificate shall be evidence of the legal assessment of such property for the year.

In all counties where land ownership may from time to time be altered to add new lands to the tax rolls due to the activity of any river, stream, or other body of water along or bordering state lines, whether by accretion or avulsion, it shall be the duty of the county surveyor prior to June 1, 1960, and at least once within each five-year period thereafter either to cause to be surveyed any lands believed to have been altered in such manner or to certify in writing that it is his or her opinion that no alteration of ownership of any land in the county from that shown by the then current tax rolls has occurred due to the action of any river, stream, or other body of water along or bordering state lines. A report of such survey or surveys, showing the extent of any probable alteration of ownership due to the action of a river, stream, or other body of water along or bordering state lines, or a certificate of no change as provided shall be filed with the county assessor within the periods hereinbefore stated. In any county where there is no regularly elected or appointed county surveyor the county board shall appoint a qualified surveyor to carry out the provisions of this section. In the event of a failure of county officials to act as directed by this section, within the periods stated, the Property Tax Administrator may appoint a qualified surveyor to act as provided by this section, and all costs incurred shall be paid by the county. In all counties where land ownership may from time to time be altered due to the activity of any river, stream, or other body of water not along or bordering state lines, whether by accretion or avulsion, it shall be the duty of the county surveyor to cause to be surveyed any lands believed to have been altered when directed by the county board of equalization or when requested by the Property Tax Administrator. If such a survey is ordered by the county board of equalization or requested by the Property Tax Administrator, the county surveyor shall perform the same duties as when a river, stream, or other body of water is along or borders state lines.

The county assessor shall have general supervision over and direction of the assessment of all property in his or her county. In addition to the other duties provided by law, the county assessor shall:

(1) Annually revise the real property assessment for the correction of errors;

(2) When a parcel has been assessed and thereafter part or parts are transferred to a different ownership, set off and apportion to each its just and equitable portion of the assessment;

(3) Obey all rules and regulations made under Chapter 77 and the instructions and orders sent out by the Tax Commissioner and the Tax Equalization and Review Commission;

(4) Examine the records in the office of the register of deeds and county clerk for the purpose of ascertaining whether the property described in producing mineral leases, contracts, and bills of sale, have been fully and correctly listed and add to the assessment roll any property which has been omitted;

(5) Prepare the assessment roll as defined in section 77-129 and described in section 77-1303; and

(6) Beginning January 1, 2014, in any county with a population of at least one hundred fifty thousand inhabitants according to the most recent federal decennial census, provide, between January 15 and March 1 of each year, the opportunity to real property owners to meet in person with the county assessor or the county assessor's designated representative. If the real property owner does not notify the county assessor or the county assessor's designated representative by February 1 of the real property owner's intent to meet in person, the real property owner waives the opportunity to meet in person with the county assessor or the county assessor's designated representative. During such meetings, the county assessor or the county assessor's designated representative shall provide a basis for the property valuation contained in the notice of preliminary valuation sent pursuant to section 77-1301 and accept any information the property owner provides relevant to the property value.

The county assessor may, in extending a value on any item of real property, reject all values that fall below two dollars and fifty cents and extend all values of two dollars and fifty cents or more to the next higher five dollars or multiples thereof, making all valuations end in zero or five.

The county assessor shall, on or before June 15 each year, prepare a plan of assessment which shall describe the assessment actions the county assessor plans to make for the next assessment year and two years thereafter. The plan shall indicate the classes or subclasses of real property that the county assessor plans to examine during the years contained in the plan of assessment. The plan shall describe all the assessment actions necessary to achieve the levels of value and quality of assessment practices required by law and the resources necessary to complete those actions. The plan shall be presented to the county board of equalization on or before July 31 each year. The county assessor may amend the plan, if necessary, after the budget is approved by the county board. A copy of the plan and any amendments thereto shall be mailed to the Department of Revenue on or before October 31 each year.

On or before March 19 of each year, each county assessor shall conduct a systematic inspection and review by class or subclass of a portion of the taxable real property parcels in the county for the purpose of achieving uniform and proportionate valuations and assuring that the real property record data accurately reflects the property, except beginning January 1, 2014, in any county with a population of at least one hundred fifty thousand inhabitants according to the most recent federal decennial census, the inspection and review shall be conducted on or before March 25. The county assessor shall adjust the value of all other taxable real property parcels by class or subclass in the county so that the value of all real property is uniform and proportionate. The county assessor shall determine the portion to be inspected and reviewed each year to assure that all parcels of real property in the county have been inspected and reviewed no less frequently than every six years.

The county assessor shall prepare and file the annual inventory statement with the county board of his county with respect to all the county personal property in his custody or possession as provided in sections 23-346 to 23-350.

It shall be the duty of the register of deeds, county clerk, county judge, clerk of the district court and all other county officers to assist the county assessor, in the examination of the records of their respective offices, and they shall give to the county assessor any information in their possession that will assist him in the assessment of property. Any county officer, who shall fail, neglect or refuse to perform any of the duties imposed upon him by this section, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined in the sum of not less than fifty dollars nor more than five hundred dollars for each offense.

(1) The county assessor shall, after March 19 and on or before June 1, implement adjustments to the real property assessment roll for actions of the Tax Equalization and Review Commission, except beginning January 1, 2014, in any county with a population of at least one hundred fifty thousand inhabitants according to the most recent federal decennial census, the adjustments shall be implemented after March 25 and on or before June 1.

(2) On or before June 1, in addition to the notice of preliminary valuation sent pursuant to section 77-1301, the county assessor shall notify the owner of record as of May 20 of every item of real property which has been assessed at a value different than in the previous year. Such notice shall be given by first-class mail addressed to such owner's last-known address. It shall identify the item of real property and state the old and new valuation, the date of convening of the county board of equalization, the dates for filing a protest, and the average level of value of all classes and subclasses of real property in the county as determined by the Tax Equalization and Review Commission.

(3) Immediately upon completion of the assessment roll, the county assessor shall cause to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county a certification that the assessment roll is complete and notices of valuation changes have been mailed and provide the final date for filing valuation protests with the county board of equalization.

(4) The county assessor shall annually, on or before June 6, post in his or her office and, as designated by the county board, mail to a newspaper of general circulation and to licensed broadcast media in the county the assessment ratios as found in his or her county as determined by the Tax Equalization and Review Commission and any other statistical measures, including, but not limited to, the assessment-to-sales ratio, the coefficient of dispersion, and the price-related differential.

After March 19 and on or before July 25 or on or before August 10 in counties that have adopted a resolution to extend the deadline for hearing protests under section 77-1502, the county assessor shall report to the county board of equalization any overvaluation or undervaluation of any real property, except beginning January 1, 2014, in any county with a population of at least one hundred fifty thousand inhabitants according to the most recent federal decennial census, the report shall be made after March 25 and on or before July 25 or on or before August 10 in counties that have adopted a resolution to extend the deadline for hearing protests under section 77-1502. The county board of equalization shall consider the report in accordance with section 77-1504.

The current year's assessed valuation of any real property shall not be changed by the county assessor after March 19 except by action of the Tax Equalization and Review Commission or the county board of equalization, except beginning January 1, 2014, in any county with a population of at least one hundred fifty thousand inhabitants according to the most recent federal decennial census, the current year's assessed valuation of any real property shall not be changed after March 25 except by action of the commission or the county board of equalization.

The county assessor of any county shall, at any time, correct the tax rolls as provided in section 77-1613.02 for any real property listed on the assessment roll but omitted from the tax roll.

It shall be the duty of the county assessor to report to the county board of equalization all real property in his or her county that, for any reason, was omitted from the assessment roll for the current year, after the date specified in section 77-123, or any former year. The assessment shall be made by the county board of equalization in accordance with sections 77-1504 and 77-1507. After county board of equalization action pursuant to section 77-1504 or 77-1507, the county assessor shall correct the assessment and tax rolls as provided in section 77-1613.02. No real property shall be assessed for any prior year under this section when such real property has changed ownership otherwise than by will, inheritance, or gift.

All taxes charged under section 77-1317 shall be exempt from any back interest or penalty and shall be collected in the same manner as other taxes levied upon real estate, except for taxes charged on improvements to real property made after September 1, 1980. Interest at the rate provided in section 77-207 and the following penalties and interest on penalties for late reporting or failure to report such improvements pursuant to section 77-1318.01 shall be collected in the same manner as other taxes levied upon real property. The penalty for late reporting or failure to report improvements made to real property after September 1, 1980, shall be as follows: (1) A penalty of twelve percent of the tax due on the improvements for each taxing period for improvements voluntarily filed or reported after March 19 has passed, except beginning January 1, 2014, in any county with a population of at least one hundred fifty thousand inhabitants according to the most recent federal decennial census, after March 25 has passed; and (2) a penalty of twenty percent of the tax due on improvements for each taxing period for improvements not voluntarily reported for taxation purposes after March 19 has passed, except beginning January 1, 2014, in any county with a population of at least one hundred fifty thousand inhabitants according to the most recent federal decennial census, after March 25 has passed. Interest at the rate specified in section 45-104.01, as such rate may from time to time be adjusted by the Legislature, shall be assessed upon such penalty from the date of delinquency of the tax until paid. No penalty excluding interest shall be charged in excess of one thousand dollars per year. For purposes of this section, improvement shall mean any new construction of or change to an item of real property as defined in section 77-103.

Any additional taxes, penalties, or interest on penalties imposed pursuant to this section may be appealed in the same manner as appeals are made under section 77-1233.06.

(1) In order that improvements to real property are properly assessed for property tax purposes, no building amounting to a value of two thousand five hundred dollars or more shall hereafter be erected, or structurally altered or repaired, and no electrical, heating, plumbing, or other installation or connection, or other improvement to real property, amounting to a value of two thousand five hundred dollars or more, shall hereafter be made until an information statement has been filed with the county assessor in the county in which the improvement is to be made. Common carriers and public utilities regulated either by the State of Nebraska or the federal government, or owned, operated, or leased by a political subdivision thereof, shall not be required to file an information statement for the structural alteration, or repair of a building, or for the electrical, heating, plumbing, or other installation or connection, or other improvement to real property owned by it or pursuant to a contract or a service agreement. Any building permit required and issued by a county or municipal officer shall fulfill the requirements of this section if it contains the information required by this section and if a copy is provided to the county assessor by the officer.

(2) If the county or municipality does not require a permit under its zoning laws, the information statement shall be filed with the county assessor. The form for the information statement shall be provided by the county assessor and shall be filed on or before December 31 of the year of construction, repair, alteration, or improvement.

(3) The information statement shall show the following: (a) Name and address of the owner of the property; (b) name and address of the applicant, if different than owner; (c) name of prime contractor for the project, if there is one; (d) location of the property, size, nature, intended use, and approximate material cost of the improvement; and (e) the estimated period of construction.

The governing body of all cities, including cities which have adopted or which hereafter adopt a home rule charter under and pursuant to sections 2 to 5, inclusive, of Article XI of the Constitution of this state, villages, public corporations, and political subdivisions of the State of Nebraska, sitting as a board of equalization and assessment shall have power in all cases where special assessments heretofore made or which may hereafter be made for any purpose have been or may be declared void or invalid, for want of adequate notice, to reassess and relevy a new assessment equal to the special benefits and not exceeding the cost of the improvement for which the assessment was made upon the property originally assessed, and such reassessment and relevy shall be made substantially in the manner provided for making original assessments of like nature, and when so made shall constitute a lien upon the property prior and superior to all other liens except liens for taxes or other special assessments, and taxes so reassessed shall be enforced and collected as other special taxes; and in making such reassessment the governing body sitting as a board of equalization and assessment shall take into consideration payments, if any, made on behalf of the property reassessed, under such prior void assessment; and if such prior payments exceed the special assessment on the given property as finally determined, the excess, with lawful interest thereon, shall be refunded to the party paying the same.

Every person, partnership, limited liability company, association, or corporation furnishing labor or material in the repair, alteration, improvement, erection, or construction of any public improvement shall furnish a certified statement to be attached to the contract that all equipment to be used on the project, except that acquired since the assessment date, has been assessed for taxation for the current year, giving the county where assessed.

Any person, partnership, limited liability company, association, or corporation falsifying any statement required by section 77-1323 shall be guilty of a Class IV misdemeanor.

(1) It is the intent of the Legislature that accurate and comprehensive information be developed by the Property Tax Administrator and made accessible to the taxing officials and property owners in order to ensure the uniformity and proportionality of the assessments of real property valuations in the state in accordance with law and to provide the statistical and narrative reports pursuant to section 77-5027.

(2) All transactions of real property for which the statement required in section 76-214 is filed shall be available for development of a sales file by the Property Tax Administrator. All transactions with stated consideration of more than one hundred dollars or upon which more than two dollars and twenty-five cents in documentary stamp taxes are paid shall be considered sales. All sales shall be deemed to be arm's length transactions unless determined to be otherwise under professionally accepted mass appraisal techniques. The Department of Revenue shall not overturn a determination made by a county assessor regarding the qualification of a sale unless the department reviews the sale and determines through the review that the determination made by the county assessor is incorrect.

(3) The Property Tax Administrator annually shall make and issue comprehensive assessment ratio studies of the average level of assessment, the degree of assessment uniformity, and the overall compliance with assessment requirements for each major class of real property subject to the property tax in each county. The comprehensive assessment ratio studies shall be developed in compliance with professionally accepted mass appraisal techniques and shall employ such statistical analysis as deemed appropriate by the Property Tax Administrator, including measures of central tendency and dispersion. The comprehensive assessment ratio studies shall be based upon the sales file as developed in subsection (2) of this section and shall be used by the Property Tax Administrator for the analysis of the level of value and quality of assessment for purposes of section 77-5027 and by the Property Tax Administrator in establishing the adjusted valuations required by section 79-1016. Such studies may also be used by assessing officials in establishing assessed valuations.

(4) For purposes of determining the level of value of agricultural and horticultural land subject to special valuation under sections 77-1343 to 77-1347.01, the Property Tax Administrator shall annually make and issue a comprehensive study developed in compliance with professionally accepted mass appraisal techniques to establish the level of value if in his or her opinion the level of value cannot be developed through the use of the comprehensive assessment ratio studies developed in subsection (3) of this section.

(5) County assessors and other taxing officials shall electronically report data on the assessed valuation and other features of the property assessment process for such periods and in such form and content as the Property Tax Administrator shall deem appropriate. The Property Tax Administrator shall so construct and maintain the system used to collect and analyze the data to enable him or her to make intracounty comparisons of assessed valuation, including school districts and other political subdivisions, as well as intercounty comparisons of assessed valuation, including school districts and other political subdivisions. The Property Tax Administrator shall include analysis of real property sales pursuant to land contracts and similar transfers at the time of execution of the contract or similar transfer.

The Property Tax Administrator shall require each county assessor to maintain tax maps in accordance with standards specified by the Property Tax Administrator. Whenever necessary to correct mapping deficiencies, the Property Tax Administrator shall install standard maps or approve mapping plans and supervise map production. The Property Tax Administrator may require the county to reimburse the state for tax maps installed.

(1) The Property Tax Administrator and Tax Commissioner shall prepare, issue, and annually revise guides for county assessors in the form of property tax laws, rules, regulations, manuals, and directives. The Property Tax Administrator and Tax Commissioner may issue such directives without the necessity of compliance with the terms of the Administrative Procedure Act relating to the promulgation of rules and regulations. The assessment and appraisal function performed by counties shall comply with the standards, and county assessors shall continually use the materials in the performance of their duties. The standards shall not require the implementation of a specific computer software or hardware system if the existing software or system produces data and reports in compliance with the standards.

(2) The Property Tax Administrator, or his or her agent or representative, may examine or cause to have examined any books, papers, records, or memoranda of any county relating to the assessment of property to determine compliance with the laws, rules, regulations, manuals, and directives described in subsection (1) of this section. Such production of records shall not include the photocopying of records between January 1 and April 1. Failure to provide such records to the Property Tax Administrator may constitute grounds for the suspension of the assessor's certificate of any county assessor who willfully fails to make requested records available to the Property Tax Administrator.

(3) After an examination the Property Tax Administrator shall provide a written report of the results to the county assessor and county board. If the examination indicates a failure to meet the standards contained in the laws, rules, regulations, manuals, and directives, the Property Tax Administrator shall, in the report, set forth the facts and cause of such failures as well as corrective measures the county or county assessor may implement to correct those failures.

(4) After the issuance of the report of the results of the examination, the Property Tax Administrator may seek to order a county or county assessor to take corrective measures to remedy any failure to comply with the materials described in subsection (1) of this section. Such corrective orders may only be issued after written notice and a hearing before the Tax Commissioner conducted at least ten days after the issuance of the written notice of hearing. The performance of such corrective measures shall be implemented by the county to which the order is issued. If the county fails to implement such corrective measures, the Property Tax Administrator may seek to suspend the assessment function of the county under the terms of subsection (5) of this section and shall implement the corrective measures pursuant to subsection (6) of this section. The performance of such corrective measures shall be a charge on the county, and upon completion, the Property Tax Administrator shall notify the county board of the cost and make demand for such cost. If payment is not received within one hundred twenty days after the start of the next fiscal year, the Tax Commissioner shall report such fact to the State Treasurer. The State Treasurer shall immediately make payment to the Department of Revenue for the costs incurred by the department for such corrective measures. The payment shall be made out of any money to which such county may be entitled under the Compressed Fuel Tax Act, Chapter 77, articles 27 and 35, and sections 66-482 to 66-4,149.

(5) If, within one year from the service of the order, the measures in the corrective order have not been taken, the Tax Commissioner (a) may, at any time during the continuance of such failure, issue an order requiring the county assessor and county board to show cause why the authority of the county with respect to assessments or any matter related thereto should not be suspended, (b) shall set a time and place at which the Tax Commissioner or his or her representative shall hear the county assessor and county board on the question of compliance by the county assessor or county with the laws, rules, regulations, manuals, directives, or corrective orders described in this section, and (c) after such hearing shall determine whether and to what extent the assessment function of the county shall be so suspended. Such hearing shall be held at least ten days after the issuance of such notice in the county.

(6) During the continuance of a suspension pursuant to subsection (5) of this section, the Property Tax Administrator shall succeed to the authority and duties from which the county has been suspended and shall exercise and perform the same. Such exercise and performance shall be a charge on the suspended county. The suspension shall continue until the Tax Commissioner finds that the conditions responsible for the failure to meet the minimum standards contained in the laws, rules, regulations, manuals, and directives have been corrected.

(7) The Property Tax Administrator, subject to rules and regulations to be published and furnished to every county assessor and county board, shall have the power to petition the Tax Commissioner to invalidate the certificate of any assessor or deputy assessor who willfully fails or refuses to diligently perform his or her duties in accordance with the laws, rules, regulations, manuals, and orders issued by the Tax Commissioner governing the assessment of property and the duties of each assessor and deputy assessor. No certificate shall be revoked or suspended except after notice and a hearing before the Tax Commissioner or his or her designee. Such hearing shall be held at least ten days after the issuance of such notice in the county. Prior to revocation, a one-year probationary period, subject to oversight by the Tax Commissioner, shall be imposed. At the end of the one-year probationary period, a second hearing shall be held. If assessment practices have improved, the probationary period shall end and no revocation shall be made. If assessment practices have not improved, the assessor certificate shall be revoked. If during the probationary period, the assessor continues to willfully fail or refuse to diligently perform his or her duties, the Tax Commissioner may immediately hold the second hearing. If the county assessor certificate of a person serving as assessor or deputy assessor is revoked, such person shall be removed from office by the Tax Commissioner, the office shall be declared vacant, and such person shall not be eligible to hold that office for a period of five years after the date of removal. The Tax Commissioner shall mail a copy of his or her written order to the affected party within seven days after the date of the order.

(8) All hearings described in this section shall be governed by the Administrative Procedure Act. Any county aggrieved by a determination of the Tax Commissioner after a hearing pursuant to subsections (4) and (5) of this section or alleging that its suspension is no longer justified or any assessor or deputy assessor whose county assessor certificate has been revoked may appeal within thirty days after the date of the written order of the Tax Commissioner to the Tax Equalization and Review Commission in accordance with section 77-5013.

Pursuant to rules and regulations, the Property Tax Administrator shall, on or before July 1, 2007, develop, maintain, and enforce a uniform statewide structure for record identification codes, property record cards, property record files, and other administrative reports required for the administration of the property assessment process. The Property Tax Administrator shall not require the use of specific computer software or hardware if an existing system produces data and reports in compliance with the rules and regulations of the Tax Commissioner.

Whenever a county by or pursuant to action of its county board requests the Property Tax Administrator to provide engineering, professional, or technical services for the appraisal of major commercial or industrial properties, the Property Tax Administrator may, within his or her available resources, provide such services. The county shall pay to the Property Tax Administrator the actual cost of such services.

(1) The county assessor shall perform an income-approach calculation for all rent-restricted housing projects constructed to allow an allocation of low-income housing tax credits under section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code and approved by the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority when considering the assessed valuation to place on the property for each assessment year. The income-approach calculation shall be consistent with any rules and regulations adopted and promulgated by the Tax Commissioner and shall comply with professionally accepted mass appraisal techniques. Any low-income housing tax credits authorized under section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code that were granted to owners of the project shall not be considered income for purposes of the calculation but may be considered in determining the capitalization rate to be used when capitalizing the income stream. The county assessor, in determining the actual value of any specific property, may consider other methods of determining value that are consistent with professionally accepted mass appraisal methods described in section 77-112.

(2) The owner of a rent-restricted housing project shall file a statement with the county assessor on or before October 1 of each year that details income and expense data for the prior year, a description of any land-use restrictions, and such other information as the county assessor may require.

The Property Tax Administrator may make such inspections, investigations, and studies as may be necessary for the adequate administration of his or her responsibilities pursuant to the provisions of sections 77-701 to 77-706 and 77-1327 to 77-1342. Such inspections, investigations, and studies may be made in cooperation with other state agencies, and, in connection therewith, the Property Tax Administrator may utilize reports and data of other state agencies.

The county and all political subdivisions within the county shall be bound by the values established by the county assessor and equalized by the county board of equalization and the Tax Equalization and Review Commission for all property subject to its taxing power.

(1) Any two or more counties may enter into an agreement for joint or cooperative performance of the assessment function.

(2) Such agreement shall provide for:

(a) The division, merger, or consolidation of administrative functions between or among the parties, or the performance thereof by one county on behalf of all the parties;

(b) The financing of the joint or cooperative undertaking;

(c) The rights and responsibilities of the parties with respect to the direction and supervision of work to be performed under the agreement;

(d) The duration of the agreement and procedures for amendment or termination thereof; and

(e) Any other necessary or appropriate matters.

(3) The agreement may provide for the suspension of the powers and duties of the office of county assessor in any one or more of the parties.

(4) Unless the agreement provides for the performance of the assessment function by the assessor of one county for and on behalf of all other counties party thereto, the agreement shall prescribe the manner of electing the assessor, and the employees of the office, who shall serve pursuant to the agreement. Each county party to the agreement shall be represented in the procedure for choosing such assessor. No person shall be appointed assessor pursuant to an agreement who could not be so appointed for a single county. Except to the extent made necessary by the multicounty character of the assessment agency, qualifications for employment as assessor or in the assessment agency and terms and conditions of work shall be similar to those for the personnel of a single county assessment agency. Any county may include in any one or more of its employee benefit programs an assessor serving pursuant to an agreement made under this section and the employees of the assessment agency. As nearly as practicable, such inclusion shall be on the same basis as for similar employees of a single county only. An agreement providing for the joint or cooperative performance of the assessment function may provide for such assessor and employee coverage in county employee benefit programs.

(5) No agreement made pursuant to the provisions of this section shall take effect until it has been approved in writing by the Tax Commissioner.

(6) Copies of any agreement made pursuant to the provisions of this section, and of any amendment thereto, shall be filed in the office of the Tax Commissioner and county board of the counties involved.

(1) The county board of a county may, by resolution, request the Property Tax Administrator to assume the duties, responsibilities, and authority of the county assessor and to perform the same in and for the county. Such a resolution must be adopted on or before October 31, 2006, and every other year thereafter.

(2) If the Property Tax Administrator finds that direct state performance of the duties, responsibilities, and authority of the county assessor will be either (a) necessary or desirable for the economic and efficient performance thereof or (b) necessary or desirable for improving the quality of assessment in the state, he or she may recommend assumption of such duties, responsibilities, and authority. The Tax Commissioner shall decide whether to recommend assumption and deliver such recommendation to the Governor and the Legislature by December 15, 2006, and every other year thereafter.

(3) The Tax Commissioner may recommend assuming the duties, responsibilities, and authority of the county assessor or reject assuming such duties, responsibilities, and authority. If the Tax Commissioner rejects the request, the assessment function shall not be transferred and the county may make another request.

(4) Upon a recommendation by the Tax Commissioner that the assumption of the assessment function should be undertaken according to the criteria in subsection (2) of this section, the Tax Commissioner shall request from the Legislature a sufficient appropriation in the next regular session of the Legislature following the recommendation to assume the assessment function. If the appropriation is not made, the Tax Commissioner shall notify the county on or before July 1 that the assessment function will not be undertaken. If a sufficient appropriation is made, the Tax Commissioner shall notify the county on or before July 1 that the assessment function will be undertaken beginning the next following July 1.

(5) If the Tax Commissioner recommends assumption of the assessment function and the Legislature makes an appropriation which the Tax Commissioner determines is sufficient to undertake the assumption, then commencing on the second July 1 after the adoption of the resolution by the county board, (a) the Property Tax Administrator shall undertake and perform the assessment function and all other duties and functions of the county assessor's office, including appraisal and reappraisal, (b) the office and functions of the county assessor shall be suspended, and (c) the performance of the assessment function by the Property Tax Administrator shall be deemed performance by the county assessor. Upon the assumption of the assessment function by the Property Tax Administrator, the term of office of the incumbent county assessor shall terminate and the county need no longer elect a county assessor pursuant to section 32-519. At that time, the county assessor and the employees of the county assessor's office shall become state employees with the status of newly hired employees except as provided in section 77-1340.02. No transferred county assessor or employee shall incur a loss of income or the right to participate in state-sponsored benefits as a result of becoming a state employee with the status of a newly hired employee pursuant to this section.

(6) Beginning July 1, 2010, the Property Tax Administrator shall bill each county for which the Property Tax Administrator has assumed the assessment function under this section for the services rendered on a quarterly basis. Beginning July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011, the Property Tax Administrator shall bill twenty-five percent of the cost of the services rendered; beginning July 1, 2011, through June 30, 2012, the Property Tax Administrator shall bill fifty percent of the cost of the services rendered; and beginning July 1, 2012, through June 30, 2013, the Property Tax Administrator shall bill seventy-five percent of the cost of the services rendered. Reimbursements to the Department of Revenue shall be credited to the Department of Revenue Property Assessment Division Cash Fund.

(7) The county board of a county may, by resolution, reassume the assessment function prior to November 1, 2009, for fiscal year 2010-11, prior to September 1, 2010, for fiscal year 2011-12, and prior to September 1, 2011, for fiscal year 2012-13. The county board shall appoint an individual with a valid assessor's certificate to the position of county assessor. The appointment shall be effective July 1 of the year following the adoption of the resolution. On July 1 of such year, the appointed county assessor shall assume the title and perform the assessment functions and any other duties mandated of the office of county assessor. The appointed assessor shall continue to perform the county assessor's duties until an assessor is elected at the next election. At the close of business on June 30 of the year following the adoption of the resolution, the Property Tax Administrator shall cease his or her performance of the county assessment function. The Property Tax Administrator shall at that time transfer all books, files, and similar records with regard to the county assessment function of the county and all furniture, computers, and other equipment and property used by the state to perform the county assessment function, other than motor vehicles, to the county assessor. All contracts of the Department of Revenue pertaining to the operation of the county assessment function shall be assumed by the county until the expiration of the contract. On July 1 of the year following the adoption of the resolution, the employees of the Department of Revenue involved in the performance of the county assessment function in that county shall become county employees by operation of law.

When a transfer of the assessment function has been made pursuant to section 77-1340, the county shall maintain, at no additional cost to the state, office and service facilities used for the office of the county assessor and assessment functions as such facilities existed at the time of the county board resolution authorizing a transfer. All furniture, computers, and equipment used by the county to perform the assessment function prior to the transfer shall remain the property of the county. All books, files, and similar records shall be transferred to the Property Tax Administrator.

(1) On the date of employment transfer, all transferred employees shall immediately have the right to participate in the State Employees Retirement System of the State of Nebraska and shall have any retirement funds transferred from the retirement system of the county for which they work to the State Employees Retirement System as follows:

(a) For transferred employees who are transferring from a county which participates in the Retirement System for Nebraska Counties under the County Employees Retirement Act and who participate in such system, the amount transferred shall equal the employee and employer accounts of the transferring employee plus earnings on those amounts during the period of employment with the county; and

(b) For transferred employees who are transferring from a county which has established a separate retirement system pursuant to section 23-1118, the amount transferred shall be calculated as follows:

(i) If the retirement system of the county is a defined benefit system, a benefit transfer value of the employee's accrued benefit shall be determined by calculating the present value of the employee's retirement benefit based on the employee's years of service as of the date of transfer and the other actuarial assumptions of the retirement system of the county so that the effect on the retirement system of the county will be actuarially neutral; and

(ii) The amount transferred to the State Employees Retirement System shall equal one of the following: If the retirement system of the transferring county is a defined benefit system, an amount equal to the benefit transfer value; if the retirement system of the transferring county is a defined contribution system, the value of the employer and employee accounts of the employee plus earnings on those amounts during the period of employment with the county.

(2) Upon the completion of the transfer of funds pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, the transferred employee shall receive vesting credit for such employee's years of participation in the retirement system of the county from which the employee was transferred.

(3) For purposes of this section, employee means a county assessor and employees of the county assessor's office transferred to the state pursuant to section 77-1340.

(1) A county shall transfer all accrued sick leave of a transferred employee up to the maximum number of accumulated hours for sick leave allowed by the State Personnel System. The county shall reimburse the state for twenty-five percent of the value of the accrued sick leave hours based on the straight-time rate of pay for each employee. A county assessor who becomes a state employee and who does not have any accrued sick leave shall be granted one hundred sixty hours of sick leave. The county shall reimburse the state for twenty-five percent of the value of the sick leave hours based on the straight-time rate of pay for the county assessor.

(2) The transferred employee may transfer the maximum amount of accrued annual leave earned as an employee of the county allowed by the State Personnel System. The county shall reimburse the state for one hundred percent of the value of the hours of accrued annual leave transferred. A county assessor who becomes a state employee and who does not have any accrued annual leave shall be granted ninety-six hours of vacation leave. The county shall reimburse the state for one hundred percent of the value of the hours of annual leave based on the straight-time rate of pay for the county assessor.

(3) No transferred employee shall lose any accrual rate value of his or her sick leave and vacation leave as a result of becoming a state employee, and a transferred employee may credit years of service with the county toward the accrual rate for sick leave and vacation leave plans. When accrued sick leave and vacation leave for a transferred employee are at a greater rate value than allowed by the state's sick leave and vacation leave plans, the county shall pay the state the difference between the value of the benefits allowed by the county and the state based on, at the time of transfer, twenty-five percent of the employee's straight-time rate of pay for the sick leave and one hundred percent of the employee's straight-time rate of pay for vacation leave. A county shall reimburse the state not later than one year after the transfer is complete.

(4) The transferred employee shall not receive any additional accrual rate value for state benefits until the employee meets the qualifications for the increased accrual rates pursuant to the state's requirements.

(5) The transferred employee may participate in and be covered by the insurance program established by sections 84-1601 to 84-1615. The waiting period for medical insurance coverage of transferred employees shall be waived.

(6) For purposes of this section:

(a) Employee means a county assessor and employees of the county assessor's office transferred to the state pursuant to section 77-1340; and

(b) Straight-time rate of pay means the rate of pay in effect at the time of adoption of the resolution by the county board authorizing the transfer.

(1) On July 1, 2013, the Property Tax Administrator shall relinquish the property assessment function in all counties that transferred the assessment function to the Property Tax Administrator and have not reassumed the assessment function prior to such date.

(2) On July 1, 2013, the employees of the Department of Revenue involved in the performance of the county assessment function shall become county employees by operation of law.

(3) At the close of business on June 30, 2013, the Property Tax Administrator shall cease his or her performance of the county assessment function and the county assessor appointed pursuant to subsection (4) of this section shall assume the county assessment function. The Property Tax Administrator shall at that time transfer all books, files, and similar records with regard to the county assessment function of the county and all furniture, computers, and other equipment and property used by the state to perform the county assessment function, other than motor vehicles, to the county assessor.

(4) In such counties, the county board shall appoint an individual with a valid assessor's certificate to the position of county assessor. The appointment shall be effective July 1, 2013. On July 1, 2013, the appointed county assessor shall assume the title and perform the assessment functions and any other duties mandated of the office of county assessor. The appointed assessor shall continue to perform the county assessor's duties until an assessor is elected at the next election.

(5) The Property Tax Administrator shall provide to each county board of a county that transferred the assessment function to the Property Tax Administrator on or before October 1, 2009, a line-item allocation of its total cost of the assessment function for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009. This allocation of costs shall also identify the costs attributable to those employees that perform duties in more than one county.

(6) All contracts of the Department of Revenue pertaining to the operation of the county assessment function shall be assumed by the county until the expiration of the contract.

(7) Counties in which there are employees of the department who provide services to more than one county shall enter into an agreement pursuant to section 77-1339 for the continued performance of the services provided by the employee. No agreement pursuant to section 77-1339 is necessary if one of the counties in which the employee is providing services agrees to retain the employee as a permanent full-time employee.

(1)(a) On the date of employment transfer, all employees of the Department of Revenue transferred to a county pursuant to section 77-1340 or 77-1340.04 shall immediately have the right to participate in the particular county employees retirement plan and shall have all retirement funds transferred from the State Employees Retirement System of the State of Nebraska.

(b) For transferred employees who are transferring retirement funds, the amount transferred shall equal the employee and employer accounts of the transferring employee plus earnings on those amounts during the period of employment with the state.

(2) Upon the completion of the transfer of funds pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, the transferred employee shall receive vesting credit for such employee's years of participation in the retirement system of the county from which the employee was transferred, if any, plus all years of participation in the State Employees Retirement System. Each employee that was employed by the department after the assessment function was transferred from the county shall receive vesting credit for such employee's years of participation in the State Employees Retirement System.

(1) Each employee of the Department of Revenue transferred to a county pursuant to section 77-1340 or 77-1340.04 shall be paid for his or her accrued vacation leave hours based on his or her straight-time rate of pay and, notwithstanding section 81-1324, for twenty-five percent of the value of his or her accrued sick leave hours based on his or her straight-time rate of pay. For purposes of this subsection, straight-time rate of pay means the rate of pay in effect on June 30 of the year of transfer. The state shall reimburse employees on the date of employment transfer.

(2) A transferred employee may credit years of service with both the county and state toward the accrual rate for sick leave and vacation leave plans. The transferred employee shall not receive any additional accrual rate value for county benefits until the employee meets the qualifications for the increased accrual rates pursuant to the county's requirements.

(3) The transferred employee may participate in and be covered by the county's insurance program. The waiting period for medical insurance coverage of a transferred employee shall be waived, and any preexisting condition clause in the county's insurance program shall be waived if the transferred employee has health insurance under the Nebraska State Insurance Program or comparable health insurance coverage immediately prior to the date of employment transfer.

There is hereby created a fund to be known as the Department of Revenue Property Assessment Division Cash Fund to which shall be credited all money received by the Department of Revenue for services performed for county and multicounty assessment districts, for charges for publications, manuals, and lists, as an assessor's examination fee authorized by section 77-421, and under the provisions of sections 60-3,202, 77-684, 77-1250, and 77-1340. The fund shall be used to carry out any duties and responsibilities of the department, except that transfers may be made from the fund to the General Fund at the direction of the Legislature. The county or multicounty assessment district shall be billed by the department for services rendered. Reimbursements to the department shall be credited to the Department of Revenue Property Assessment Division Cash Fund, and expenditures therefrom shall be made only when such funds are available. The department shall only bill for the actual amount expended in performing the service.

The fund shall not, at the close of each year, be lapsed to the General Fund. Any money in the Department of Revenue Property Assessment Division Cash Fund available for investment shall be invested by the state investment officer pursuant to the Nebraska Capital Expansion Act and the Nebraska State Funds Investment Act.

The purpose of sections 77-1343 to 77-1347.01 is to provide a special valuation for qualified agricultural or horticultural land so that the current assessed valuation of the land for property tax purposes is the value that the land would have without regard to the value the land would have for other purposes or uses. For purposes of sections 77-1343 to 77-1347.01:

(1) Agricultural or horticultural land means that land as defined in section 77-1359;

(2) Applicant means an owner or lessee;

(3) Lessee means a person leasing agricultural or horticultural land from a state or governmental subdivision which is an owner that is subject to taxation under section 77-202.11;

(4) Owner means an owner of record of agricultural or horticultural land or the purchaser of agricultural or horticultural land under a contract for sale; and

(5) Special valuation means the value that the land would have for agricultural or horticultural purposes or uses without regard to the actual value the land would have for other purposes or uses.

(1) Agricultural or horticultural land which has an actual value as defined in section 77-112 reflecting purposes or uses other than agricultural or horticultural purposes or uses shall be assessed as provided in subsection (3) of section 77-201 if the land meets the qualifications of this subsection and an application for such special valuation is filed and approved pursuant to section 77-1345. In order for the land to qualify for special valuation all of the following criteria shall be met: (a) The land is located outside the corporate boundaries of any sanitary and improvement district, city, or village except as provided in subsection (2) of this section; and (b) the land is agricultural or horticultural land.

(2) Special valuation may be applicable to agricultural or horticultural land included within the corporate boundaries of a city or village if the land is subject to a conservation or preservation easement as provided in the Conservation and Preservation Easements Act and the governing body of the city or village approves the agreement creating the easement.

(3) The eligibility of land for the special valuation provisions of this section shall be determined each year as of January 1. If the land so qualified becomes disqualified on or before December 31 of that year, it shall continue to receive the special valuation until January 1 of the year following.

(4) The special valuation placed on such land by the county assessor under this section shall be subject to equalization by the county board of equalization and the Tax Equalization and Review Commission.

(1) An applicant seeking special valuation under section 77-1344 shall make application to the county assessor on or before June 30 of the first year in which such valuation is requested.

(2)(a) The application shall be made upon forms prescribed by the Tax Commissioner and available from the county assessor and shall include such information as may reasonably be required to determine the eligibility of the applicant and the land.

(b) The application shall be signed by any one of the following:

(i) The applicant;

(ii) Any person of legal age duly authorized in writing to sign an application on behalf of the applicant; or

(iii) The guardian or conservator of the applicant or the executor or administrator of the applicant's estate.

(c) The assessor shall not approve an application signed by a person whose authority to sign is not a matter of public record in the county unless there is filed with the assessor a true copy of the deed, contract of sale, power of attorney, lease, or other appropriate instrument evidencing the signer's qualification pursuant to subdivision (2)(b) of this section.

(3) If the county board of equalization takes action pursuant to section 77-1504 or 77-1507, the applicant may file an application for special valuation within thirty days after the mailing of the valuation notice issued by the county board of equalization pursuant to section 77-1504 or 77-1507.

(1) On or before July 15 in the year of application, the county assessor shall approve or deny the application for special valuation filed pursuant to section 77-1345. On or before July 22, the county assessor shall issue notice of approval or denial.

(2) If the application is approved by the county assessor, the land shall be valued as provided in section 77-1344 and, on or before July 22, the county board of equalization shall send a property valuation notice for special value to the owner and, if not the same, the applicant. Within thirty days after the mailing of the notice, a written protest of the special value may be filed.

(3)(a) If the application is denied by the assessor, a written protest of the denial of the application may be filed within thirty days after the mailing of the denial.

(b) If the denial of an application for special valuation is reversed on appeal and the application is approved, the land shall be valued as provided in section 77-1344 and the county board of equalization shall send the property valuation notice for special value to the owner and, if not the same, the applicant or his or her successor in interest, within fourteen days after the date of the final order. Within thirty days after the mailing of the notice, a written protest of the special value may be filed.

(4) If the county board of equalization takes action pursuant to section 77-1504 or 77-1507 and the applicant filed an application for special valuation pursuant to subsection (3) of section 77-1345, the county assessor shall approve or deny the application within fifteen days after the filing of the application and issue notice of the approval or denial as prescribed in subsection (1) of this section. If the application is denied by the county assessor, a written protest of the denial may be filed within thirty days of the mailing of the denial.

(5) The assessor shall mail notice of any action taken by him or her on an application to the owner and the applicant if different than the owner.

(6) All provisions of section 77-1502 except dates for filing of a protest, the period for hearing protests, and the date for mailing notice of the county board of equalization's decision are applicable to any protest filed pursuant to this section.

(7) The county board of equalization shall decide any protest filed pursuant to this section within thirty days after the filing of the protest.

(8) The clerk shall mail a copy of any decision made by the county board of equalization on a protest filed pursuant to this section to the owner and the applicant if different than the owner within seven days after the board's decision.

(9) Any decision of the county board of equalization may be appealed to the Tax Equalization and Review Commission, in accordance with section 77-5013, within thirty days after the date of the decision.

(10) If a failure to give notice as prescribed by this section prevented timely filing of a protest or appeal provided for in this section, any applicant may petition the Tax Equalization and Review Commission in accordance with section 77-5013, on or before December 31 of each year, to determine whether the land will receive special valuation for that year or to determine special value for that year.

The Tax Commissioner shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to be used by county assessors in determining eligibility for special valuation under section 77-1344 and in determining the special valuation of such land for agricultural or horticultural purposes under section 77-1344.

Upon approval of an application, the county assessor shall value the land as provided in section 77-1344 until the land becomes disqualified for such valuation by:

(1) Written notification by the applicant or his or her successor in interest to the county assessor to remove such special valuation;

(2) Except as provided in subsection (2) of section 77-1344, inclusion of the land within the corporate boundaries of any sanitary and improvement district, city, or village; or

(3) The land no longer qualifying as agricultural or horticultural land.

At any time, the county assessor may determine that land no longer qualifies for special valuation pursuant to sections 77-1344 and 77-1347. If land is deemed disqualified, the county assessor shall send a written notice of the determination to the applicant or owner within fifteen days after his or her determination, including the reason for the disqualification. A protest of the county assessor's determination may be filed with the county board of equalization within thirty days after the mailing of the notice. The county board of equalization shall decide the protest within thirty days after the filing of the protest. The county clerk shall, within seven days after the county board of equalization's final decision, mail to the protester written notification of the board's decision. The decision of the county board of equalization may be appealed to the Tax Equalization and Review Commission in accordance with section 77-5013 within thirty days after the date of the decision. The valuation notice relating to the land subject to the county assessor's disqualification notice shall be sent in accordance with subsection (2) of section 77-1315 and the valuation may be protested pursuant to section 77-1502.

The Legislature finds and declares that agricultural land and horticultural land shall be a separate and distinct class of real property for purposes of assessment. The assessed value of agricultural land and horticultural land shall not be uniform and proportionate with all other real property, but the assessed value shall be uniform and proportionate within the class of agricultural land and horticultural land.

For purposes of sections 77-1359 to 77-1363:

(1) Agricultural land and horticultural land means a parcel of land, excluding any building or enclosed structure and the land associated with such building or enclosed structure located on the parcel, which is primarily used for agricultural or horticultural purposes, including wasteland lying in or adjacent to and in common ownership or management with other agricultural land and horticultural land;

(2) Agricultural or horticultural purposes means used for the commercial production of any plant or animal product in a raw or unprocessed state that is derived from the science and art of agriculture, aquaculture, or horticulture. Agricultural or horticultural purposes includes the following uses of land:

(a) Land retained or protected for future agricultural or horticultural purposes under a conservation easement as provided in the Conservation and Preservation Easements Act except when the parcel or a portion thereof is being used for purposes other than agricultural or horticultural purposes; and

(b) Land enrolled in a federal or state program in which payments are received for removing such land from agricultural or horticultural production;

(3) Farm home site means not more than one acre of land contiguous to a farm site which includes an inhabitable residence and improvements used for residential purposes, and such improvements include utility connections, water and sewer systems, and improved access to a public road; and

(4) Farm site means the portion of land contiguous to land actively devoted to agriculture which includes improvements that are agricultural or horticultural in nature, including any uninhabitable or unimproved farm home site.

Agricultural land and horticultural land shall be divided into classes and subclasses of real property under section 77-103.01, including, but not limited to, irrigated cropland, dryland cropland, grassland, wasteland, nurseries, feedlots, and orchards, so that the categories reflect uses appropriate for the valuation of such land according to law. Classes shall be inventoried by subclasses of real property based on soil classification standards developed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the United States Department of Agriculture as converted into land capability groups by the Property Tax Administrator. County assessors shall utilize soil surveys from the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the United States Department of Agriculture as directed by the Property Tax Administrator. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the classes and subclasses of real property that may be used by county assessors or the Tax Equalization and Review Commission to achieve more uniform and proportionate valuations.

Comparable sales are recent sales of properties that are similar to the property being assessed in significant physical, functional, and location characteristics and in their contribution to value. When using comparable sales in determining actual value of an individual property under the sales comparison approach provided in section 77-112, the following guidelines shall be considered in determining what constitutes a comparable sale:

(1) Whether the sale was financed by the seller and included any special financing considerations or the value of improvements;

(2) Whether zoning affected the sale price of the property;

(3) For sales of agricultural land or horticultural land as defined in section 77-1359, whether a premium was paid to acquire nearby property. Land within one mile of currently owned property shall be considered nearby property;

(4) Whether sales or transfers made in connection with foreclosure, bankruptcy, or condemnations, in lieu of foreclosure, or in consideration of other legal actions should be excluded from comparable sales analysis as not reflecting current market value;

(5) Whether sales between family members within the third degree of consanguinity include considerations that fail to reflect current market value;

(6) Whether sales to or from federal or state agencies or local political subdivisions reflect current market value;

(7) Whether sales of undivided interests in real property or parcels less than forty acres or sales conveying only a portion of the unit assessed reflect current market value;

(8) Whether sales or transfers of property in exchange for other real estate, stocks, bonds, or other personal property reflect current market value;

(9) Whether deeds recorded for transfers of convenience, transfers of title to cemetery lots, mineral rights, and rights of easement reflect current market value;

(10) Whether sales or transfers of property involving railroads or other public utility corporations reflect current market value;

(11) Whether sales of property substantially improved subsequent to assessment and prior to sale should be adjusted to reflect current market value or eliminated from such analysis; and

(12) For agricultural land or horticultural land as defined in section 77-1359 which is or has been receiving the special valuation pursuant to sections 77-1343 to 77-1347.01, whether the sale price reflects a value which the land has for purposes or uses other than as agricultural land or horticultural land and therefor does not reflect current market value of other agricultural land or horticultural land.

The Property Tax Administrator may issue guidelines for assessing officials for use in determining what constitutes a comparable sale. Guidelines shall take into account the factors listed in this section and other relevant factors as prescribed by the Property Tax Administrator.

Improvements on leased public lands shall be assessed, together with the value of the lease, to the owner of the improvements as real property. On or before March 1, following any construction thereof or any change in the improvements made on or before January 1, the owner of the improvements shall file with the county assessor an assessment application on a form prescribed by the Tax Commissioner. The taxes imposed on the improvements shall be collected in the same manner as in all other cases of collection of taxes on real property.

(1) If improvements on leased land are to be assessed separately to the owner of the improvements, the actual value of the real property shall be determined without regard to the fact that the owner of the improvements is not the owner of the land upon which such improvements have been placed.

(2) If the owner of the improvements claims that the value of his or her interest in the real property is reduced by reason of uncertainty in the term of his or her tenancy or because of the prospective termination or expiration of the term, he or she shall serve notice of such claim in writing by certified mail on the owner of the land before January 1 and shall at the same time serve similar notice on the county assessor, together with his or her affidavit that he or she has served notice on the owner of the land.

(3) If the county assessor finds, on the basis of the evidence submitted, that the claim is valid, he or she shall proceed to apportion the total value of the real property between the owner of the improvements and the owner of the land as their respective interests appear.

(4) The county assessor shall give notice to the parties of his or her findings by certified mail on or before June 1.

(5) The proportions so established shall continue from year to year unless changed by the county assessor after notice on or before June 1 or a claim is filed by either the owner of the improvements or the owner of the land in accordance with the procedure provided in this section.

Improvements on leased lands, other than leased public lands, shall be assessed to the owner of the leased lands unless before March 1, following any construction thereof or change in the improvements made on or before January 1, the owner of the leased lands or the lessee thereof files with the county assessor, on a form prescribed by the Tax Commissioner, a request stating that specifically designated improvements on such leased lands are the property of the lessee. The improvements shall be assessed as real property, and the taxes imposed on the improvements shall be collected by levy and sale of the interest of the owner in the same manner as in all other cases of the collection of taxes on real property. When the request is filed by the owner of the leased lands, notice shall be given by the county assessor to the lessee at the address on the request.

The Property Tax Administrator shall create a statewide file of real property sales to provide information regarding hard-to-assess property, including situations in which a local property may have few available comparable sales. The Property Tax Administrator shall make the file available to county assessors.

The following real property shall qualify as historically significant real property for purposes of the historic rehabilitation valuation authorized by section 77-1391 pursuant to the authority granted to the Legislature under subdivision (12) of Article VIII, section 2, of the Constitution of Nebraska:

(1) Real property individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places;

(2) Real property within a district listed in the National Register of Historic Places that is historically significant as determined by the State Historic Preservation Officer and approved under section 77-1387;

(3) Real property individually designated pursuant to a landmark ordinance or resolution that has been approved by the State Historic Preservation Officer pursuant to section 77-1386; and

(4) Real property within a district designated pursuant to a landmark ordinance or resolution that has been approved by the State Historic Preservation Officer pursuant to section 77-1386 that is historically significant as determined by the State Historic Preservation Officer and approved under section 77-1387.

(1) A city, village, or county shall request the State Historic Preservation Officer's approval of any landmark ordinance or resolution which designates individual properties or districts before any such individual properties or historically significant properties within such districts receive historic rehabilitation valuation authorized by section 77-1391. The following documentation shall accompany the request:

(a) A copy of the ordinance or resolution for which approval is requested;

(b) A list, including the common addresses and common written boundary descriptions of all individual properties and historic districts designated or proposed to be designated under the ordinance or resolution;

(c) A description and statement of historical significance for all designated individual properties and historic districts, which includes representative photographic views; and

(d) A map indicating the location of individual landmarks and historic districts.

(2) Within forty-five days after receipt of the request and documentation, the State Historic Preservation Officer shall approve the ordinance or resolution if the documentation indicates compliance with the criteria for designation of landmarks and historic districts established by the United States Department of the Interior for the inclusion of properties in the National Register of Historic Places, 36 C.F.R. 60, as such regulation existed on January 1, 2005, and if the ordinance or resolution contains provisions for the following:

(a) Authorization for historic preservation under section 19-903;

(b) A statement of purpose;

(c) Establishment of a historic review commission which:

(i) Has no fewer than five members;

(ii) Has demonstrated expertise in the disciplines of history, architectural history, historic architecture, architecture, community planning, real estate, neighborhood conservation, historic preservation, or related fields;

(iii) Has staggered terms of office for members; and

(iv) Holds meetings at regular intervals at least four times a year;

(d) A process and criteria for designation of landmarks and historic districts that are consistent with those established by the United States Department of the Interior for the inclusion of properties in the National Register of Historic Places, 36 C.F.R. 60, as such regulation existed on January 1, 2005;

(e) A definition of actions that merit review by the historic review commission, which shall include demolitions and major alterations;

(f) Standards and criteria for review of actions within the jurisdiction of the historic review commission; and

(g) Procedural due process, such as notification, a hearing, and an appeal procedure.

(1) A property owner or the legally designated representative of the property owner may submit an application to the State Historic Preservation Officer for a determination of whether the property owner's real property is qualified to receive historic rehabilitation valuation authorized by section 77-1391 on a form prescribed by the State Historic Preservation Officer. The application shall contain at least the following information:

(a) The address and location of the property;

(b) A map showing the location of the property;

(c) Clear, current black and white or color photographs showing principal views of the property;

(d) Designation authority, whether under the National Register of Historic Places or a landmark ordinance or resolution; and

(e) If it is historically significant and located within a district listed in the National Register of Historic Places or designated under an ordinance or resolution that has been approved by the State Historic Preservation Officer under section 77-1386, the name of the district and a statement describing the contribution of the property to the significance of the district.

(2) Within thirty days after the receipt of an application, the State Historic Preservation Officer shall determine whether an individual property is eligible to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is therefor eligible for historic rehabilitation valuation. The State Historic Preservation Officer may extend the deadline up to an additional forty-five days if he or she determines that a site inspection is necessary.

(3) Within thirty days after the receipt of an application, the State Historic Preservation Officer shall determine whether a property located within a district on the National Register of Historic Places or designated under an ordinance or resolution that has been approved by the State Historic Preservation Officer under section 77-1386 is of historic significance to the district pursuant to the criteria in 36 C.F.R. 67.5, as such regulation existed on January 1, 2005, and inform the applicant of the decision in writing. The State Historic Preservation Officer may extend the deadline up to an additional forty-five days if he or she determines that a site inspection is necessary.

(4) Property shall not be eligible for historic rehabilitation valuation if the property has received a final certificate of rehabilitation within the twelve years prior to application.

(1) The owner of historically significant real property described in section 77-1385 may apply for a preliminary certificate of rehabilitation on a form prescribed by the State Historic Preservation Officer. The application shall be filed with the State Historic Preservation Officer prior to beginning rehabilitation. The application shall contain at least the following information:

(a) The address or location of the historically significant real property;

(b) Documentation of the cost of the rehabilitation, including estimated cost of architectural fees if applicable;

(c) A certification from the county assessor stating the assessed valuation of the historically significant real property that was last certified by the county assessor pursuant to section 13-509 or as finally determined if appealed;

(d) A description of the historic condition of the historically significant real property, when possible, and condition of the historically significant real property immediately prior to the rehabilitation; and

(e) A detailed description of the proposed rehabilitation work, including plans and specifications, if applicable.

(2) Within thirty days after receipt of an application for a preliminary certificate of rehabilitation, the State Historic Preservation Officer shall issue a preliminary certificate of rehabilitation to the applicant and transmit a copy to the county assessor if he or she determines that:

(a) The proposed work meets the Standards for Rehabilitation as described in 36 C.F.R. 67.7, as such regulation existed on January 1, 2005; and

(b) The work is a substantial rehabilitation.

(3) The State Historic Preservation Officer may extend the deadline up to an additional forty-five days if he or she determines that a site inspection is necessary. The State Historic Preservation Officer shall determine the length of the rehabilitation period, which shall not exceed two years unless the State Historic Preservation Officer finds (a) it is economically infeasible to complete the rehabilitation in two years or (b) the magnitude of the project is such that a good faith attempt to complete the rehabilitation in two years would not succeed. The certificate shall identify the rehabilitation period.

(4) The State Historic Preservation Officer shall issue a preliminary certificate of rehabilitation to the owner if (a) the property was determined to be qualified for historic preservation valuation pursuant to subsection (2) of section 77-1387, (b) the proposed rehabilitation meets the Standards for Rehabilitation as described in 36 C.F.R. 67.7, as such regulation existed on January 1, 2005, and (c) the proposed rehabilitation is a substantial rehabilitation. The State Historic Preservation Officer shall transmit a copy of the preliminary certificate of rehabilitation to the county assessor within seven days after issuance of the certificate to the owner.

(5) For purposes of this section, substantial rehabilitation means interior or exterior rehabilitation work that preserves the historically significant real property in a manner that significantly improves its condition and that costs an amount equal to or greater than twenty-five percent of the assessed valuation certified by the county assessor and contained in the application.

(1) A city, village, or county may receive and recommend approval of applications for preliminary certificates of rehabilitation within its corporate boundaries pursuant to subsection (4) of this section.

(2) Prior to exercising authority under subsection (1) of this section, a city, village, or county shall request the approval of the State Historic Preservation Officer. The request shall be accompanied by assurances that the city, village, or county:

(a) Enforces laws for the designation of historically significant real property;

(b) Has a landmark ordinance or resolution that has been approved under section 77-1386;

(c) Maintains a historic review commission which has been approved by the State Historic Preservation Officer;

(d) Maintains a system for the survey and inventory of historically significant real property; and

(e) Maintains a system for reviewing applications for certifications of rehabilitations substantially the same as that provided in section 77-1388.

(3) Within forty-five days after the receipt of the request and the assurances, the State Historic Preservation Officer shall approve the city, village, or county to exercise authority under subsection (1) of this section.

(4)(a) The owner of historically significant real property described in section 77-1385 may apply for a preliminary certificate of rehabilitation on a form prescribed by the State Historic Preservation Officer. The application shall be filed with the city, village, or county prior to beginning rehabilitation, and the city, village, or county shall forward the application to the State Historic Preservation Officer with the following information:

(i) Certification that the real property is designated pursuant to a landmark ordinance or resolution or is in a district so designated; and

(ii) Any comments or recommendations on the application.

(b) The State Historic Preservation Officer shall process the application in accordance with subsection (4) of section 77-1388.

Upon completion of the rehabilitation the owner shall provide the following information to the State Historic Preservation Officer to obtain a final certificate of rehabilitation:

(1) Documentation of the dates on which construction commenced and was completed;

(2) Clear, current black and white or color photographs showing the completed rehabilitation work, the appearance of the structure immediately prior to the rehabilitation, and, if possible, the historic appearance of the historically significant real property;

(3) A written description of the original condition of the historically significant real property;

(4) A written description of the present condition of the historically significant real property; and

(5) A written description and, if applicable, final plans and specifications of the rehabilitation.

The State Historic Preservation Officer shall issue a final certificate of rehabilitation to the owner if the rehabilitation meets the Standards for Rehabilitation as described in 36 C.F.R. 67.7, as such regulation existed on January 1, 2005, and transmit a copy to the county assessor within seven days after issuance of the certificate to the owner.

(1) Commencing January 1, 2006, for all real property for which a final certificate of rehabilitation has been issued, the valuation for purposes of assessment shall be no more than the base-year valuation for eight years following issuance of the final certificate of rehabilitation.

(2) For the four years following the expiration of the eight-year period specified in subsection (1) of this section, the valuation for purposes of the assessment shall be as follows:

(a) For the first year, the base-year valuation plus twenty-five percent of the difference in the base-year valuation and the current year actual value;

(b) For the second year, the base-year valuation plus fifty percent of the difference in the base-year valuation and the current year actual value;

(c) For the third year, the base-year valuation plus seventy-five percent of the difference in the base-year valuation and the current year actual value; and

(d) For the fourth year, the current year actual value.

(3) For purposes of sections 77-1385 to 77-1394, base-year valuation means the assessed valuation of the historically significant real property in the assessment year the preliminary certificate of rehabilitation was issued as certified in subdivision (1)(c) of section 77-1388 or as finally determined if appealed.

(4) If, during the eight-year period and the four-year period specified in subsections (1) and (2) of this section, the State Historic Preservation Officer determines that historically significant real property for which a final certificate of rehabilitation has been issued (a) has been the subject of repair, renovation, remodeling, or improvement but not in accordance with the Standards for Rehabilitation as described in 36 C.F.R. 67.7, as such regulation existed on January 1, 2005, (b) is no longer of historical significance to a qualified historic district, or (c) no longer possesses the qualifications for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, he or she shall revoke the final certificate of rehabilitation by written notice to the owner and transmit a copy of the revocation to the county assessor.

(5) Upon disqualification of any real property receiving base-year valuation under sections 77-1385 to 77-1394, the county assessor shall change the value of such property to its actual value in the assessment year following the revocation of the final certificate of rehabilitation.

The Tax Commissioner may adopt and promulgate rules and regulations regarding the base-year valuation of historically significant real property.

The State Historic Preservation Officer may adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to carry out sections 77-1385 to 77-1394, including, but not limited to, provisions that:

(1) Preclude the issuance of a conditional, preliminary, or final certificate of rehabilitation for any owner-occupied single family residence if thirty percent or more of the dwelling space is new construction outside the existing structure;

(2) Specify what costs are eligible to meet the twenty-five percent minimum specified costs and make ineligible those costs attributable to new construction outside the existing structure; and

(3) Allow the issuance of a certificate of rehabilitation for a condominium.

(1) Any decision of the State Historic Preservation Officer under sections 77-1385 to 77-1394 may be protested to the State Historic Preservation Officer within thirty days after the mailing of the written notice. If a protest is not filed, the action of the State Historic Preservation Officer shall be final. If a protest is filed, the State Historic Preservation Officer shall hear the protest within fourteen days after receipt of the protest.

(2) The State Historic Preservation Officer, within seven days after his or her final decision, shall mail written notice of his or her final decision to the owner and the county assessor of the county in which the real property is located.

(3) Any owner aggrieved by a final decision of the State Historic Preservation Officer may appeal the final decision to the district court within thirty days after mailing of the final decision by the State Historic Preservation Officer. The county assessor may appeal a final decision of the State Historic Preservation Officer to the district court within thirty days after mailing of the final decision by the State Historic Preservation Officer. The thirty-day period for filing such an appeal commences to run from the date of the mailing of the final decision. Upon receiving a copy of the final order on an appeal filed with the district court, the State Historic Preservation Officer shall mail a copy of the final order to the county assessor of the county in which the real property is located.

The county board shall constitute the county board of equalization. The county board of equalization shall fairly and impartially equalize the values of all items of real property in the county so that all real property is assessed uniformly and proportionately.

The county assessor or his or her designee shall attend all meetings of the county board of equalization when such meetings pertain to the assessment or exemption of real and personal property. The county treasurer or designated county official pursuant to section 23-186 shall attend all meetings of the county board of equalization involving the exemption of motor vehicles from the motor vehicle tax. All records of the county assessor's office shall be available for the inspection and consideration of the county board of equalization. The county clerk, deputy, or designee pursuant to section 23-1302 shall attend all meetings of the county board of equalization and shall make a record of the proceedings of the county board of equalization.

(1) The county board of equalization shall meet for the purpose of reviewing and deciding written protests filed pursuant to this section beginning on or after June 1 and ending on or before July 25 of each year. Protests regarding real property shall be signed and filed after the county assessor's completion of the real property assessment roll required by section 77-1315 and on or before June 30. For protests of real property, a protest shall be filed for each parcel. Protests regarding taxable tangible personal property returns filed pursuant to section 77-1229 from January 1 through May 1 shall be signed and filed on or before June 30. The county board in a county with a population of more than one hundred thousand inhabitants based upon the most recent federal decennial census may adopt a resolution to extend the deadline for hearing protests from July 25 to August 10. The resolution must be adopted before July 25 and it will affect the time for hearing protests for that year only. By adopting such resolution, such county waives any right to petition the Tax Equalization and Review Commission for adjustment of a class or subclass of real property under section 77-1504.01 for that year.

(2) Each protest shall be signed and filed with the county clerk of the county where the property is assessed. The protest shall contain or have attached a statement of the reason or reasons why the requested change should be made and a description of the property to which the protest applies. If the property is real property, a description adequate to identify each parcel shall be provided. If the property is tangible personal property, a physical description of the property under protest shall be provided. If the protest does not contain or have attached the statement of the reason or reasons for the protest or the applicable description of the property, the protest shall be dismissed by the county board of equalization.

(3) Beginning January 1, 2014, in counties with a population of at least one hundred fifty thousand inhabitants according to the most recent federal decennial census, for a protest regarding real property, each protester shall be afforded the opportunity to meet in person with the county board of equalization or a referee appointed under section 77-1502.01 to provide information relevant to the protested property value.

(4) No hearing of the county board of equalization on a protest filed under this section shall be held before a single commissioner or supervisor.

(5) The county clerk or county assessor shall prepare a separate report on each protest. The report shall include (a) a description adequate to identify the real property or a physical description of the tangible personal property to which the protest applies, (b) any recommendation of the county assessor for action on the protest, (c) if a referee is used, the recommendation of the referee, (d) the date the county board of equalization heard the protest, (e) the decision made by the county board of equalization, (f) the date of the decision, and (g) the date notice of the decision was mailed to the protester. The report shall contain, or have attached to it, a statement, signed by the chairperson of the county board of equalization, describing the basis upon which the board's decision was made. The report shall have attached to it a copy of that portion of the property record file which substantiates calculation of the protested value unless the county assessor certifies to the county board of equalization that a copy is maintained in either electronic or paper form in his or her office. One copy of the report, if prepared by the county clerk, shall be given to the county assessor on or before August 2. The county assessor shall have no authority to make a change in the assessment rolls until there is in his or her possession a report which has been completed in the manner specified in this section. If the county assessor deems a report submitted by the county clerk incomplete, the county assessor shall return the same to the county clerk for proper preparation.

(6) On or before August 2, or on or before August 18 in a county that has adopted a resolution to extend the deadline for hearing protests, the county clerk shall mail to the protester written notice of the board's decision. The notice shall contain a statement advising the protester that a report of the board's decision is available at the county clerk's or county assessor's office, whichever is appropriate.

In all counties the county board of equalization may appoint one or more suitable persons to act as referees. The compensation of a referee shall be fixed by the county board and shall be payable from the general fund of the county. The county board of equalization may direct that any protest filed in accordance with section 77-1502, shall be heard in the first instance by the referee in the manner provided for the hearing of protests by the county board of equalization. Upon the conclusion of the hearing in each case, the referee shall transmit to the county board of equalization all papers relating to the case, together with his or her findings and recommendations in writing. The county board of equalization, after considering all papers relating to the protest and the findings and recommendations of the referee, may make the order recommended by the referee or any other order in the judgment of the board of equalization required by the findings of the referee, or may hear additional testimony, or may set aside such findings and hear the protest anew.

Any property valued by the state shall not be subject to the jurisdiction of the county board of equalization.

The county board of equalization may meet on or after June 1 and on or before July 25, or on or before August 10 if the board has adopted a resolution to extend the deadline for hearing protests under section 77-1502, to consider and correct the current year's assessment of any real property which has been undervalued or overvalued. The board shall give notice of the assessed value to the record owner or agent at his or her last-known address.

The county board of equalization in taking action pursuant to this section may only consider the report of the county assessor pursuant to section 77-1315.01.

Action of the county board of equalization pursuant to this section shall be for the current assessment year only.

The action of the county board of equalization may be protested to the board within thirty days after the mailing of the notice required by this section. If no protest is filed, the action of the board shall be final. If a protest is filed, the county board of equalization shall hear the protest in the manner prescribed in section 77-1502, except that all protests shall be heard and decided on or before September 15 or on or before September 30 if the county has adopted a resolution to extend the deadline for hearing protests under section 77-1502. Within seven days after the county board of equalization's final decision, the county clerk shall mail to the protester written notice of the decision. The notice shall contain a statement advising the protester that a report of the decision is available at the county clerk's or county assessor's office, whichever is appropriate.

The action of the county board of equalization upon a protest filed pursuant to this section may be appealed to the Tax Equalization and Review Commission on or before October 15 or on or before October 30 if the county has adopted a resolution to extend the deadline for hearing protests under section 77-1502.

(1) Unless the county has adopted a resolution to extend the deadline for hearing protests under section 77-1502, after completion of its actions and based upon the hearings conducted pursuant to sections 77-1502 and 77-1504, a county board of equalization may petition the Tax Equalization and Review Commission to consider an adjustment to a class or subclass of real property within the county. Petitions must be filed with the commission on or before July 26.

(2) The commission shall hear and take action on a petition filed by a county board of equalization on or before August 10. Hearings held pursuant to this section may be held by means of videoconference or telephone conference. The burden of proof is on the petitioning county to show that failure to make an adjustment would result in values that are not equitable and in accordance with the law. At the hearing the commission may receive testimony from any interested person.

(3) After a hearing the commission shall, within the powers granted in section 77-5023, enter its order based on evidence presented to it at such hearing and the hearings held pursuant to section 77-5022 for that year. The order shall specify the percentage increase or decrease and the class or subclass of real property affected or any corrections or adjustments to be made to the class or subclass of real property affected. When issuing an order to adjust a class or subclass of real property, the commission may exclude individual properties from that order whose value has already been adjusted by a county board of equalization in the same manner as the commission directs in its order. On or before August 10 of each year, the commission shall send its order by certified mail to the county assessor and by regular mail to the county clerk and chairperson of the county board.

(4) The county assessor shall make the specified changes to each item of property in the county as directed by the order of the commission. In implementing such order, the county assessor shall adjust the values of the class or subclass that is the subject of the order. For properties that have already received an adjustment from the county board of equalization, an additional adjustment may be made so that total adjustments made are equal to the commission's ordered adjustment and no additional adjustment shall be made applying the commission's order, but such an exclusion from the commission's order shall not preclude adjustments to those properties for corrections or omissions. The county assessor of the county adjusted by an order of the commission shall recertify the abstract of assessment to the Property Tax Administrator on or before August 20.

Whenever any owner of real or personal property applies to the county board of equalization for a reduction in the taxable value of any such property, the owner shall be deemed to have waived notice of increase in the taxable value of such property which is found undervalued by the county board of equalization notwithstanding the provisions of any other statutes to the contrary.

(1) The county board of equalization may meet at any time for the purpose of assessing any omitted real property that was not reported to the county assessor pursuant to section 77-1318.01 and for correction of clerical errors as defined in section 77-128 that result in a change of assessed value. The county board of equalization shall give notice of the assessed value of the real property to the record owner or agent at his or her last-known address. For real property which has been omitted in the current year, the county board of equalization shall not send notice pursuant to this section on or before June 1.

Protests of the assessed value proposed for omitted real property pursuant to this section or a correction for clerical errors shall be filed with the county board of equalization within thirty days after the mailing of the notice. All provisions of section 77-1502 except dates for filing a protest, the period for hearing protests, and the date for mailing notice of the county board of equalization's decision are applicable to any protest filed pursuant to this section. The county board of equalization shall issue its decision on the protest within thirty days after the filing of the protest.

(2) The county clerk shall, within seven days after the board's final decision, send:

(a) For protested action, a notification to the protester of the board's final action advising the protester that a report of the board's final decision is available at the county clerk's or county assessor's office, whichever is appropriate; and

(b) For protested and nonprotested action, a report to the Property Tax Administrator which shall state a description adequate to identify the property, the reason such property was not assessed pursuant to section 77-1301, and a statement of the board's justification for its action. A copy of the report shall be available for public inspection in the office of the county clerk.

(3) The action of the county board of equalization upon a protest filed pursuant to this section may be appealed to the Tax Equalization and Review Commission within thirty days after the board's final decision.

(4) Improvements to real property which were properly reported to the county assessor pursuant to section 77-1318.01 for the current year and were not added to the assessment roll by the county assessor on or before March 19 shall only be added to the assessment roll by the county board of equalization from June 1 through July 25, except beginning January 1, 2014, in any county with a population of at least one hundred fifty thousand inhabitants according to the most recent federal decennial census, such improvements which were not added to the assessment roll on or before March 25 shall only be added to the assessment roll by the county board of equalization from June 1 through July 25. In counties that have adopted a resolution to extend the deadline for hearing protests under section 77-1502, the deadline of July 25 shall be extended to August 10.

Any person otherwise having a right to appeal may petition the Tax Equalization and Review Commission in accordance with section 77-5013, on or before December 31 of each year, to determine the actual value or special value of real property for that year if a failure to give notice prevented timely filing of a protest or appeal provided for in sections 77-1501 to 77-1510.

Whenever any county board of equalization shall have reason to believe that any person, company or corporation has not listed all of his or its property for taxation, or that any property has not been fairly valued and assessed, it shall be lawful for such board to call before it any such person, or any agent or officer of any such corporation, and require the production of any books, records or papers. The person so called shall be sworn, and shall answer under oath, and give all information which he may possess, touching the existence, location and value of any property sought to be listed, valued and assessed, and no person so called shall be excused from answering any question put to him on the ground that his answer might tend to criminate him, but no answer he shall make or testimony he may give shall be used against him in any criminal prosecution.

The county board of equalization may issue process to compel the attendance before it of any person with books, records and papers, if necessary, which process shall be served by the sheriff the same as a summons from the district court, and he shall receive the same fees therefor. Any person who shall fail to respond to such process, or who shall refuse to answer any proper question put to him by the board, shall forfeit the sum of five hundred dollars, to be recovered in a civil action in the name of the county. Witnesses shall receive the same fees as witnesses in the district court to be paid by the person, the valuation of whose property is being investigated, in case the board finds that such person has willfully concealed or undervalued his property; otherwise, by the county.

Any action of the county board of equalization pursuant to section 77-1502 may be appealed to the Tax Equalization and Review Commission in accordance with section 77-5013 on or before August 24 or on or before September 10 if the county has adopted a resolution to extend the deadline for hearing protests under section 77-1502.

After the Tax Equalization and Review Commission obtains exclusive jurisdiction of an appeal from a decision, order, determination, or action of a county board of equalization pursuant to section 77-5013, the board shall have no power or authority to compromise, settle, or otherwise change the decision, order, determination, or action it has taken. The board may, with approval of the Tax Equalization and Review Commission, offer to confess judgment for part of the value claimed or part of the causes involved in the action. If (1) the appellant is present and refuses to accept such confession of judgment in full of the appellant's demands against the board in such action or the appellant fails to attend having had reasonable notice that the offer would be made, its terms, and the time of making it and (2) at hearing the appellant does not obtain more relief than was offered to be confessed, the appellant shall pay all the costs and fees the board incurred after making the offer. The offer shall not be deemed to be an admission of the cause of action or relief to which the appellant is entitled, and the offer shall not be given in evidence at the hearing.

The county assessor shall prepare an abstract of the property assessment rolls of locally assessed real property of his or her county on forms prescribed and furnished by the Tax Commissioner. The county assessor shall file the abstract with the Property Tax Administrator on or before March 19, except beginning January 1, 2014, in any county with a population of at least one hundred fifty thousand inhabitants according to the most recent federal decennial census, the real property abstract shall be filed on or before March 25. The abstract shall show the taxable value of real property in the county as determined by the county assessor and any other information as required by the Property Tax Administrator. The Property Tax Administrator, upon written request from the county assessor, may for good cause shown extend the final filing due date for the abstract and the statutory deadlines provided in section 77-5027. The Property Tax Administrator may extend the statutory deadline in section 77-5028 for a county if the deadline is extended for that county. Beginning January 1, 2014, in any county with a population of at least one hundred fifty thousand inhabitants according to the most recent federal decennial census, the county assessor shall request an extension of the final filing due date by March 22.

(1) The county board of equalization shall each year, on or before October 15, levy the necessary taxes for the current year if within the limit of the law. The levy shall include an amount for operation of all functions of county government and shall also include all levies necessary to fund tax requests certified under section 77-1601.02 that are authorized as provided in sections 77-3442 to 77-3444.

(2) On or before November 5, the county board of equalization upon its own motion may act to correct a clerical error which has resulted in the calculation of an incorrect levy by any entity otherwise authorized to certify a tax request under section 77-1601.02. The county board of equalization shall hold a public hearing to determine what adjustment to the levy is proper, legal, or necessary. Notice shall be provided to the governing body of each political subdivision affected by the error. Notice of the hearing as required by section 84-1411 shall include the following: (a) The time and place of the hearing, (b) the dollar amount at issue, and (c) a statement setting forth the nature of the error.

(3) Upon the conclusion of the hearing, the county board of equalization shall issue a corrected levy if it determines that an error was made in the original levy which warrants correction. The county board of equalization shall then order (a) the county assessor, county clerk, and county treasurer to revise assessment books, unit valuation ledgers, tax statements, and any other tax records to reflect the correction made and (b) the recertification of the information provided to the Property Tax Administrator pursuant to section 77-1613.01.

(1) The property tax request for the prior year shall be the property tax request for the current year for purposes of the levy set by the county board of equalization in section 77-1601 unless the governing body of the county, municipality, school district, learning community, sanitary and improvement district, natural resources district, educational service unit, or community college passes by a majority vote a resolution or ordinance setting the tax request at a different amount. Such resolution or ordinance shall only be passed after a special public hearing called for such purpose is held and after notice is published in a newspaper of general circulation in the area of the political subdivision at least five days prior to the hearing. The hearing notice shall contain the following information: The dollar amount of the prior year's tax request and the property tax rate that was necessary to fund that tax request; the property tax rate that would be necessary to fund last year's tax request if applied to the current year's valuation; and the proposed dollar amount of the tax request for the current year and the property tax rate that will be necessary to fund that tax request. Any resolution setting a tax request under this section shall be certified and forwarded to the county clerk on or before October 13 of the year for which the tax request is to apply.

(2) Any levy which is not in compliance with this section and section 77-1601 shall be construed as an unauthorized levy under section 77-1606.

Any taxpayer may appeal from the action of the county board of equalization in making the levy, if in the judgment of such taxpayer the levy is for an unlawful or unnecessary purpose or in excess of the requirements of a political subdivision, to the Tax Equalization and Review Commission in accordance with section 77-5013 within thirty days after the county board of equalization's action. The appeal shall set forth the levy appealed from and the amount or extent to which the appellant claims the levy is for an unlawful or unnecessary purpose or in excess of the requirements of a political subdivision, and to that extent and no further shall such levy be affected by such appeal. It shall not be necessary for such taxpayer to appear before the county board of equalization at the time of the making of the levy or prior thereto in order to entitle him or her to such appeal.

No appeal shall in any manner suspend the collection of any tax, nor the duties of the officers relating thereto during the pendency of the appeal, however, all taxes received based on the appealed levy or portion thereof appealed shall be kept by the treasurer in a special fund without distribution. The commission shall give notice of the appeal to the county board of equalization, county clerk, county assessor, and county treasurer of each county in which the tax is levied. The county board of equalization, county clerk, county assessor, or county treasurer shall not be charged with notice of the appeal until notice is served by the commission.

The Tax Equalization and Review Commission shall hear the appeal and determine whether or not the levy appealed from or any part thereof is for an unlawful or unnecessary purpose or in excess of the requirements of the political subdivision. The decision of the commission shall be certified to the county assessor, county clerk, and county treasurer of each county in which the tax was levied to revise all tax records to reflect the corrected levy.

If the tax books have been delivered to the county treasurer for collection of the taxes before the determination of the appeal by the Tax Equalization and Review Commission, then the county treasurer shall, upon receipt of the certified final decision of the commission, distribute or return to the taxpayers in accordance with such decision the appropriate amount of taxes paid and held pursuant to section 77-1606 and, if necessary, correct the tax rolls in his or her office to conform to such decision unless a further appeal is taken, in which case the county treasurer shall hold the taxes until the final determination of the appeal and thereupon distribute or return the same in conformity to such decision and, if necessary, correct the tax rolls.

After the levy of taxes has been made and before November 20, the county assessor shall transcribe the assessments into a suitable book to be provided at the expense of the county, properly ruled and headed with the distinct columns in which shall be entered the description of the lands, number of acres and value, number of city and village lots and their value, taxable value of taxable personal property, delinquent taxes of previous years, the amount of taxes due on the day the first installment becomes due, and the amount of delinquent taxes due on the day the second installment thereof becomes due, as provided by law, in the event the taxpayer elects to pay taxes in two equal semiannual installments.

The county assessor or county clerk shall certify to the Property Tax Administrator, on or before December 1 of each year, the total taxable valuation and the Certificate of Taxes Levied. The certificate shall be used for statistical purposes and shall specify the information necessary to determine the total taxable value, tax levies, and total property taxes requested by the political subdivisions for the current year on forms prescribed and furnished by the Tax Commissioner. The certificate shall include for each political subdivision a statement of the amount of property taxes sought and the tax levy made for (1) the payment of principal or interest on bonds issued by the political subdivision and (2) all other purposes.

The county assessor or county clerk shall correct the assessment and tax rolls after action of the county board of equalization. Each correction shall be made in triplicate, each set of triplicate forms being consecutively numbered, and there shall be entered upon such form all data pertaining to the assessment which is to be corrected. The correction shall show all additions and reductions, the amount of tax added or reduced, with the reason therefor, and the page or pages of the tax rolls upon which such change is to be made. The original copy shall be delivered to the county treasurer, the duplicate copy to the county clerk, and the triplicate copy shall remain in the office of the county assessor. The county assessor or county clerk shall provide upon demand a listing showing each entry and sorted by tax year. The county treasurer shall thereupon correct the tax roll to conform to the correction copy and all changes shall be made in red ink, drawing a line through the original or erroneous figures, but not erasing the same. No county assessor shall reduce or increase the valuation of any property, real or personal, without the approval of the county board of equalization. Any county assessor who shall willfully reduce or increase the valuation of any property, without the approval of the county board of equalization, as provided in this section, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not less than twenty dollars nor more than one hundred dollars.

The county assessor after July 25, or after August 10 in counties that have adopted a resolution to extend the deadline for hearing protests under section 77-1502, and with approval of the county board of equalization shall correct the assessment roll and the tax list, if necessary, in the case of a clerical error as defined in section 77-128 that results in a change in the value of the real property. Clerical errors that do not result in a change of value on the assessment roll may be corrected at any time by the county assessor. All corrections to the tax list shall be made as provided in section 77-1613.02.

All taxes which are uniform, throughout any precinct, township, school district, learning community, village, city, county, or other taxing subdivision of a county, shall be formed into a single tax, be entered upon the tax list in a double column, and be denominated a consolidated tax.

The tax list shall be completed by the county assessor, except that the tax list shall be completed by the county clerk in all counties having a population of more than two hundred thousand inhabitants. The tax lists shall be completed by carrying out in a column by itself the consolidated tax as provided in section 77-1614, with the labor tax, and any irregular tax, each in separate columns and, after adding up each column of taxes, the officer preparing same shall, in an abstract at the end of each precinct, township, city, and village list, or other subdivisions of a county, apportion the consolidated tax among the respective funds to which it belongs, according to the tax levied for each of such funds, showing a summary of each distinct tax. The officer preparing the same, before transmission of the tax lists to the county treasurer, shall set up on his or her records a controlling account, which shall reflect the total tax assessed, against which the preparing officer shall record the monthly tax collections, as shown by the county treasurer's records.

The county board of any county is authorized to direct that for all purposes of assessment of property, and for the levy and collection of taxes and special assessments, there shall be used tax records or random access devices suitable for use in connection with electronic data processing equipment or other mechanical office equipment, in accordance with procedures to be approved by the Property Tax Administrator. Such county board is also authorized to direct that a statement of taxes and special assessments be mailed or otherwise delivered to the person, firm, association, or corporation against whom such taxes are assessed. Failure to receive such statement shall not relieve the taxpayer from any liability to pay such taxes or assessments and penalties accrued thereon.

The tax list shall be completed and delivered to the county treasurer on or before November 22. At the same time the county assessor or county clerk shall transmit a warrant, which warrant shall be signed by the county assessor or county clerk and shall in general terms command the treasurer to collect taxes therein mentioned according to law. No informality therein, and no delay in the transmitting of the same after the time above specified, shall affect the validity of any taxes or sales, or other proceedings for the collection of taxes as provided for in this chapter. Whenever it shall be discovered that the warrant provided for in this section was not at the proper time attached to any tax list, or was not transmitted as herein provided for any preceding year or years, in the hands of the county treasurer, the county assessor shall forthwith attach or transmit such warrant, which shall be in the same form and have the same force and effect as if it had been attached to such tax list, or transmitted as herein provided, before the delivery thereof to the county treasurer.

The tax list shall be the property of the county and shall be substantially in the form set forth in this section, with such additions and amendments thereto as may be necessary to make it conform to law.

Owners' Names

Description of Lands or Town Lots

Part of section or part of town

Section or lot

Town or block

Improvements on leased lands

Range

Acres

Value

No. School District

No. Road District

State and County Consolidated Tax

County and District Taxes

Road Tax

Sch. Dist. Tax

Sch. Dist. Bond Tax

Precinct Tax

Advertising

Total

No. of Receipt

Remarks