Otoe County Veterans Service Office

05/29/2026

Buddy Check July 22nd

05/29/2026

🚨BUDDY CHECK UPDATE🚨

We are excited to announce the new date and time of our Buddy Check, featuring in July a pulled pork dinner. Buddy Check is a wonderful opportunity for veterans and their spouses to come together in a warm and welcoming environment.

Buddy Check is designed to foster connection and support for veterans within our community. Whether you are a veteran looking to reconnect or a spouse wanting to engage with others who share similar experiences, Buddy Check promises meaningful conversations and camaraderie over a hearty meal.

Mark your calendar and plan to join us for an evening filled with good food and great company. We hope to see you there to share stories, build friendships, and strengthen the bonds that unite us.

July 22nd @ 6pm at the Veterans Memorial Building in Nebraska City.

05/21/2026

Free dental care for Veterans, spouses and surviving spouses. Slots will fill up fast so contact our office for assistance with getting signed up!

You can call us at 402-873-9540 or email us at [email protected] or [email protected]

05/14/2026

This Saturday, May 16, Nebraska City is celebrating ARMED FORCES DAY! Join us in the parking lot of the Nebraska City Veterans Memorial Building Project (8th Street & 1st Corso) from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. for a fantastic 250th Celebration! Check out the flyer for details!

05/14/2026

🚨Exciting News about Buddy Check 🚨

Veterans in our community have shared that a different time would make it easier for more people to attend Buddy Check — and we listened!

Starting July 22, Buddy Check will now be held at 6:00 PM on the 22nd of each month.

We’re looking forward to seeing even more of you there! Stay tuned for more details soon!!!

05/07/2026

Per the County Commissioners, the courthouse will be closed through Sunday, May 10, due to building-related issues. The facility is anticipated to reopen on Monday, May 11, pending final restoration activities. If you need immediate veterans assistance , please contact the state office at 402-420-4021 or email our office at [email protected]

Thank you.

05/06/2026

Due to a water leak, the Otoe County Courthouse is closed today. Future updates will be available on the Otoe County website at https://otoecountyne.gov/

02/07/2026

Please contact your respective representative or attend the hearing and voice your support or opposition to these two bills in Nebraska.

LB826 is a bill that would allow Veterans or surviving spouses who find out they are eligible for a Homestead Exemption after the June 30 deadline to file for a Homestead Exemption between June 30 and the end of the year. This will be very helpful to those who retroactively are eligible but don’t have the VA certification due to delays in getting a VA decision. Hearing is Feb 11 at 1:30 in the Revenue Committee. Please support this bill.

LB1117 would require dependents of veterans to exhaust all benefits provided under the US Department of Veterans Affairs Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance program in order to qualify for the Nebraska Dependents of Veterans tuition waiver. Essentially this will prevent DEA eligible dependents from using the waiver of tuition at Nebraska state colleges and universities. This is a very good benefit that if taken away will impact a lot of dependents who use the waver of tuition to cover their tuition while the DEA benefits cover their cost of living/room and board. Hearing is Feb 12 at 1:30 in the Revenue Committee. Please oppose this bill.

02/04/2026

Disabled/Blind Veteran Motor Vehicle Tax & Fee Exemption.

We are fielding many questions daily about this exemption and the application process.

Facts:

The exemption only applies to the Motor Vehicle Tax and Motor Vehicle Fee. All other taxes and fees (e.g. plate fee, sales tax, wheel tax, etc.) still need to be paid. These are the top two fees listed on the registration on the right under "Tax & Fee Summary".

How to register: The veteran must be in the Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs Military & Veteran Registry as this is how DMV will verify eligibility. Veterans can do this by either going online https://www.nebraska.gov/va_registry/index.cgi and following the directions provided OR they can visit their County Veterans Service Officer or State Service Office and a VSO can verify their eligibility. NOTE! It takes up to 48 hours after approval for the registry to be processed and visible to the DMV. Applications received after 5 P.M. CT on Friday will be processed the following Monday and in the DMV database by Tuesday or Wednesday.

Once registered, how to obtain exemption:

In person- Tell the county treasurer staff you qualify for the disabled veteran tax exemption.

Via mail- include a note requesting the exemption along with your social security number

Online- on the second step (eligibility) check the box that says, "I am eligible for the disabled veteran motor vehicle tax and fee exemption and want to claim it on one of the vehicles I am renewing."

When does a veteran apply for the tax exemption?
The request for the tax exemption MUST occur within 30 days after the purchase of a vehicle. For registration renewal, the request MUST occur prior to the final day of the expiration month. If the request is outside the required timeframe, the veteran will not qualify for the exemption until the next renewal period.

The eligible veteran MUST be on the title to the vehicle selected for the exemption. If the vehicle is titled in a trust or LLC., the eligible veteran must be listed as an owner also.

For further questions, please call our office at 402-873-9540 or call the Nebraska Department of Veteran Affairs at 402-420-4021

Official Nebraska.gov application

01/29/2026

Call or stop in for assistance with your exemption! 402-873-9540