Although taxpayers across the state have spoken out loud and clear the last several days that their property taxes are out of hand, many will hear their complaints fall on deaf ears.

NCN’s Joe Jordan reports from Omaha, where the city is poised to spend far more next year, raising questions about a new state law, the so-called “Truth in Taxation” law.

[View our full video report above] 

Taxpayers: “Something has to be done.” “I think this is really unreasonable.”  “It's like, they got to do something about this.”

Just three of dozens of voices complaining at a recent Omaha public hearing on property taxes, the so-called “Truth in Taxation” law, where city, county and school officials who raise their tax revenue by 2 percent or more have to tell the voters why.

Mayor Jean Stothert, Omaha (R): “This year our largest budget increase will pay for higher salaries for the Omaha Police Department.”

But taxpayers remain frustrated.

Alonzo Gilford, Omaha Taxpayer: “Our property taxes jumped sky high from last year and I’m 82 years old and I'm trying to hold on to my property values. But they keep going up and up and up and I'm going to have to move.”

Mike Leuder, Douglas County Taxpayer: “My personal increase was 40 percent, $132,000 on a property that was valued at $329,000 last year, $461,000 this year.”

As we reported earlier the Platte Institute, the state’s leading conservative think tank, has been pushing these hearings.

Platte Institute Video: “Participation has real results, giving taxpayers the opportunity to raise their voices and bring concerns to the people in control, has the power to influence decisions.”

Or does it, shortly after this public hearing, I spoke with Jim Vokal, the head of the Platte Institute.

Joe Jordan, NCN: “There seems to be a loophole in the law. Because last week the Omaha City Council sets their budget…on Tuesday they're going to set the levy, the tax rate. It seems like the deal is already done.”

Jim Vokal, Platte Institute: “Well I mean certainly we're down the path when they approve the budget already, but there's still an opportunity for them to make a change to the levy rate. We saw that last year in a couple examples across the state where they did make some changes after these hearings. Look this legislation isn’t necessarily perfect. We have the opportunity potentially to have these hearings before they approve their budgets.”

Joe Jordan, NCN: “And if they're held before the budgets are set won't the argument from the subdivisions be we don't know how much we're spending just yet?”

Jim Vokal, Platte Institute: “Well I think that they may. Maybe it's the Truth in Taxation hearing happens after the budgets, the preliminary draft is released, but before the political entity actually approves it.”

Deborah Mitchell, Omaha Taxpayer: “We don't even have a city sewer line, we don't even have paved streets and every time I look around my taxes is getting worse.”