JOINT PUBLIC HEARING: Banner County Board of Commissioners

Monday, September 7, 2026

Event Date(s)

Description

BANNER COUNTY

NOTICE OF JOINT PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX INCREASES

Public notice is hereby given, in compliance with the provisions of Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77 – 1633, that a representative of the following political subdivision and an Elected Official will meet on the 14th day of September 2026 at 6:00 p.m., at the Banner County Courthouse Courtroom for the purpose of conducting a joint public hearing to obtain public input on a property tax increase proposed by the following subdivisions:

Banner County property tax request: $1,458,768.56

Banner County School District: $3,590,711.00

Said meetings are open to the public. Accommodations for the disabled are available upon request. Please contact the Banner County Clerk at 308.436.5265 at lease 48 hours prior to the meeting if accommodation is required.

There is no item on the agenda for this joint public meeting other than discussion of each political subdivision’s intent to increase its property tax request by a percentage greater than the “allowable growth percentage” defined in Neb. Rev. Stat. §77 – 1633.

/s/ Chasta Lambert

Banner County Clerk

Agenda

JOINT PUBLIC HEARING

Banner County Board of Commissioners

Banner County Courthouse, Harrisburg, Nebraska

Monday, September 14, 2026 - 6:00 p.m.

  1. Call to Order
  2. Roll Call
  3. Nebraska Open Meetings Act: A copy of the Nebraska Open Meetings Act is posted in back of the Courtroom by the entrance.
  4. Approval of Agenda
  5. Open Public Hearing
  6. Close Public Hearing
  7. Adjournment

Next Regular Banner County Board of Commissioners Meeting

Tuesday, September 15, 2026 - 8:45 a.m.

*Notice of changes to agenda, contact Banner County Clerk. Additions may not be made to this agenda less than twenty - four hours before beginning of meeting, unless added as an "emergency" item. Banner County Board of Commissioners reserves the right to add an "emergency agenda item pursuant to Section 84 - 1410 of the Revised Statutes of Nebraska.

**This agenda shall be kept continually current; a copy is available for public inspection at Banner County Clerk's office during regular business hours.

***Chairperson of the Board may call agenda items out of order as items and times are approximate and may vary; however, public hearings, as noted, will be called at times noted by the agenda item. Banner County Board of Commissioners reserves the right to convene in Executive Session pursuant to Section 84 - 1410 of the Revised Statutes of Nebraska.

Minutes

Banner County Board of Commissioners Proceedings

Joint Public Hearing

            Banner County Board of Commissioners met in special session Monday, September 14, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the courtroom of Banner County Courthouse. Notice of meeting was given by publication in Western Nebraska Observer.  A copy of the proof of publication is on file in Banner County Clerk's office.  Notices were also posted in Harrisburg, Nebraska Post Office; Banner County Public School; Banner Capitol Bank; office of Banner County Clerk; and front window of Banner County Courthouse.

            Agenda is kept current and available during regular business hours in Banner County Clerk's office.  A copy of the agenda was sent to Board of Commissioners on Friday, September 11, 2026.

  1. Chairperson Darnall called meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 
  2. Clerk Lambert took roll call showing all members present. Members of public present were: Jim Milner; Tim Grubbs;  Sondra Anderson; Lane Darnall; Lisa Brenner; Gary Darnall; Katie Armstrong; Kyle Ann Hopkins; Zane Hopkins; Julie Rogers; Tina Childers; Joe Singleton; Ken and Norma Boston; Douglas Olsen; Taylor Martinez; Butch Schular; Eddie Shaul; Robert and Rhonda Gifford; Rodney and Kathy Van Pelt; Scott Ansley; Paula Brown; Wittni Boettcher; Gary and Sandy Beals; Chris Lecher (Banner County School presenter); Robert Brenner (Banner County Attorney) and Caleb Johnson (J13 Enterprises Banner County presenter).
  3. Chairperson Darnall stated the Nebraska Open Meetings Act is posted by the back door of the courtroom.
  4. Motion by Anderson to approve agenda. Second by Lease. Roll call vote: Anderson yes; Darnall yes; Lease yes. Motion carried.
  5. Chairperson Darnall opened Joint Public Hearing at 6:06 p.m. and read welcome statement regarding hearing guidelines. Darnall set time limit for public speaking at five (5) minutes.
    1. Caleb Johnson with J13 Enterprises presented proposed 2026 – 2027 budget for Banner County. Johnson answered questions from public regarding proposed tax increase (LB34) and pink post card requirements. Anderson explained expenses that were needed in road fund. Darnall explained efforts by elected officials to lower expenses in their respective offices. 
    2. Chris Lecher, Banner County School Superintendent, presented proposed increase in Banner County School budget. Lecher answered questions from public regarding proposed property tax and proposed levy increase asking for Banner County School. Anderson explained fuel for Banner County School is bid by Banner County Commissioners, propane is bid by Banner County School, both fuel and propane bids are same for Banner County and Banner County School. Lecher discussed outstanding loans with interest owed by Banner County School and explained attempts to get Banner County School out of debt. Low reserves are available to utilize.

Darnall thanked everyone for coming to Joint Public Hearing and reminded everyone of the Banner County Budget Hearing and Property Tax Request Hearing will be September 22, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Copies of proposed 2026 – 2027 budget may be requested at Banner County Clerk’s office.

Darnall closed budget hearing at 7:41 p.m.

Motion by Anderson to adjourn. Second by Lease. Meeting adjourned 7:41 p.m.

Banner County Board of Commissioners

/s/ Robin Darnall, Chairperson

/s/ Don Lease II, Vice Chairperson

/s/ Laif Anderson, Member

ATTEST: /s/ Chasta Lambert, Banner County Clerk

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