photo by: Journal-World

The Douglas County Commission will hold their Wednesday meeting at the Douglas County Public Works building, 3755 E 25th St.

Douglas County property owners who are low-income seniors or disabled veterans soon may be eligible to receive up to a $300 rebate of county property taxes via a proposed program under consideration by the County Commission.

On Wednesday, county commissioners will consider approving a property tax rebate pilot program that would be open to low income residents who either are 65 years or older or who are disable veterans. In addition to those restrictions, the program would only be open to property owners who have homes that are appraised at $350,000 or less.

The program would provide a rebate only to the county portion of a property tax bill. It would not rebate any taxes due to city governments or school districts, for example.

The county has set aside $500,000 in in 2025 budget to fund the pilot program. At that level of funding, that would allow for just more than 1,600 rebates at the maximum $300 amount.

How many people actually would receive rebates is unknown, and won’t be determined until applications are received and until county staff evaluate the applications and apply the income limits.

The county clerk and administrative staff will manage the application process and assess eligibility. The income eligibility will be based on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s FY 2024 very low-income limits.

According to a staff memo to commissioners, a household of four would need to have an income of less than $51,000 per year to qualify for the tax rebate program. A household of two people would need to have an income of less than $40,800 per year.

If approved at the Wednesday meeting, county staff will move forward with a plan to accept applications in January 2025.

In other business, commissioners will:

* Hear a presentation from the Heritage Conservation Council in a work session to review its current strategic plan – which aims to advocate for the conservation of natural and cultural heritage – and discuss their current projects and objectives.

The Natural and Cultural Heritage grant program, formed alongside the council, supports the conservation of natural, cultural and historic resources in Douglas County. The projects that are prioritized for funding through this program, include inclusive and creative storytelling of heritage, conservation and restoration of native ecosystems, enhancement of agricultural heritage, accessibility of important natural and cultural sites and the preservation of historic resources.

The county commissioners designated $466,192 in funding for the heritage partners as part of the 2025 budget. According to a presentation in the agenda, there have been 124 projects supported by Douglas County since 2011 and over $3.2 million has been awarded to heritage conservation projects across the county.

* Consider authorizing the purchase of two Mack trucks equipped with dump beds, snowplows, and spreaders for a total cost of $540,770.

These two trucks will replace two 2015 Mack Trucks set to be retired in 2025. The trucks are mainly utilized by Public Works road crews to transport equipment and materials to different job sites, according to a memo in the agenda. During the winter months, the trucks will also assist with snow removal on County routes.

* Consider the necessity of a project aimed at enhancing the safety of Route 1061 between N700 Road and N900 Road, approximately five miles south of Eudora. The project involves replacing four road crossing culverts, relocating a large drainage channel, adding paved shoulders at the N800 Road intersection, and conducting a two-mile pavement mill and overlay. This work has been coordinated with upcoming improvements planned for the Route 1061 corridor, according to a memo in the agenda.

* Consider the approval of several construction easements for a variety of road improvement projects.

The County Commission’s work session will begin at 4 p.m., with a business meeting following at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday in the Douglas County Public Works training room at 3755 E. 25th St. The meeting will also be available via Zoom.