Bellevue mayoral candidates offer distinct paths to cut property taxes

Mayor Rusty Hike stands on the opposite side of the property tax debate from challenger Kevin Pflager as Bellevue voters prepare to cast ballots. Both men agree that current tax burdens are too high. They disagree sharply on the mechanism to reduce them.

Hike’s strategy centers on attracting outside money into the local economy. He points to the city’s recent investments in a new water park and the REACH project. He argues these developments act as magnets for hotels and restaurants. When visitors from out of state spend money in Bellevue, he says, the city gains the revenue needed to lower local property taxes.

Pflager supports those same projects but warns against relying on them entirely. He says the water park is a valuable asset that will help the city. However, he argues it is not a guaranteed or sustainable method for cutting taxes. He advocates for steady growth in the city’s sales tax base instead. This approach, he claims, provides a more reliable financial foundation than large-scale development bets.

The candidates show more alignment regarding the Olde Towne district. Hike describes the area as Bellevue’s downtown and a vital place for residents to gather. Pflager shares this vision. He proposes using grants and loans to fund improvements. He envisions the district as a social hub where families and friends meet on Friday nights.

Voters expressed frustration over the lack of an official debate. An 18-year-old first-time voter said they wanted more information about the candidates. Pflager had proposed a debate online. Hike agreed to participate only if an independent group organized the event. He stated he was not afraid to debate but wanted to avoid what he called a hit job.

Pflager considered his online proposal an official invitation. He noted the proposal came after Hike posted about him on Facebook. The dispute over the debate format added another layer of tension to the campaign.

Questions about conflicts of interest surfaced for both candidates. Some residents asked Hike to explain how his real estate business might influence his mayoral decisions. Hike said he recuses himself from votes on projects near his properties. He noted that many residents own property in the area, so ownership alone is not a disqualifier.

Hike questioned Pflager’s role as a city planner for neighboring Papillion. He asked how Pflager could represent Bellevue while planning for a competitor. Pflager said the role is often misunderstood. He explained that developers usually choose their sites before contacting planners. He added that potential conflicts in Bellevue would be limited to land swaps or boundary adjustments, which he said are mostly settled matters.

The race leaves voters choosing between an incumbent focused on continued development and a challenger seeking a broader revenue strategy. Both candidates promise tax relief. The path to that relief remains the central point of division.