LINCOLN— Ruth Sorensen, the state’s property tax administrator since 2007, is leaving her post after sources say she was asked to resign. But sources told the Nebraska Examiner that Sorensen was asked to resign in a surprise meeting Tuesday.

Her exit was announced Thursday morning in a two-paragraph press release from the Governor’s Office headlined, “Gov. Pillen Accepting Applications for Property Tax Administrator.” The job became vacant, the press release then stated, because of the “retirement” of Sorensen, a 60-year-old attorney, effective Nov. 22. As property tax administrator, Sorensen was chief executive officer of the state’s property assessment division, which oversees assessment practices by the 93 counties, as well as the granting of tax exemptions.

Tax assessment has become a hot issue in 2023, with both homeowners and farmers seeing steep increases in their valuations — and 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 will be leaving as a working group, appointed by Pillen, considers changes in the state’s property valuation system.

Sorensen declined to comment on that but did say Thursday she had “thoroughly enjoyed” her job.

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