Nebraska Gov Jim Pillen says he’s accepting applications for the next State Property Tax Administrator because Ruth Sorensen is retiring, but sources say Sorensen was actually asked to resign last week.
Sorensen, a 60-year old attorney and property tax administrator since 2007, has declined to comment on whether she’s leaving voluntarily or not, saying only that she has “thoroughly enjoyed” her job and “helping the fine citizens of the State of Nebraska.”
As property tax administrator, Sorensen was CEO of the property assessment division, which oversees granting tax exemptions and the assessment practices of the state’s 93 counties. She says she’ll miss interacting with the counties and their officials.
. Tax assessment has been a hot issue this year, with both homeowners and farmers seeing steep increases in their valuations and the value of their land.
Nebraska farmland prices are projected to increase 14% this year, while residential land prices are up 16% over a year ago.
Sorensen leaves just as a working group appointed by Pillen, whose family has one of the state’s largest hog operations, considers changes in the state’s property valuation system.
Valuations are set by locally elected county assessors but overseen by the property tax administrator.
Cathy Lang was Sorensen’s predecessor as administrator and says whoever holds the post must be well versed in 100 years of tax statutes and rulings.
Lang adds that it will be a challenge “to find someone with (Sorensen’s) knowledge and expertise to help continue to keep our valuations compliant. Sorensen’s annual salary was $124,000