Bellevue Candidates Clash Over Water Park Reliance for Tax Relief

Bellevue residents will choose between incumbent Mayor Rusty Hike and challenger Kevin Pflager in a race defined by property tax policy and urban development. While both men promise to reduce tax bills, they disagree on the primary engine for that relief. The water park and the REACH project sit at the heart of this disagreement.

Hike argues that large-scale projects draw outside spending, which widens the city's tax base. He noted that hotels and restaurants are already following the development. "When you're coming from out of state or outside the city, those people are leaving money here in your city, which allows you to start lowering your property taxes," Hike said. He views this influx of revenue as the foundation for tax cuts.

Pflager supports the water park but warns against relying on it exclusively. He believes the city needs steady sales tax growth to ensure long-term stability. "We have to do everything in our power to make sure it's a success," Pflager said. However, he described the park as "a big, fancy idea" that is not a "sustainable, guaranteed, foolproof method" to lower taxes. He wants to ensure development around the park complements the attraction rather than depending on it for all fiscal gains.

The two candidates agree on the need to revitalize Olde Towne. Hike calls the area the city's downtown and a priority. Pflager also backs improvements, suggesting the use of grants and loans to fund changes. He envisions a space where residents gather on Friday nights with friends and family.

Voters have noted the lack of an official debate. An 18-year-old first-time voter expressed a desire for more information. Hike said he would debate if an independent group organized the event, emphasizing the need for an unbiased forum. Pflager considered his online request an official invitation. "I'm certainly not afraid to debate anybody, but I want to make sure it's an unbiased debate and not some kind of hit job," Hike said.

Questions of conflict of interest have also emerged. Residents asked Hike if his real estate business influences his mayoral decisions. He said he recuses himself when voting on projects near his properties. "I do own some properties around town, but there's a lot of people who own some properties around town," Hike said. Pflager countered that his role as a planner for Papillion does not mean he recruits development for that city. He stated that developers usually choose their sites before contacting the planning department.