Financial Assistance

The M&FRC provides resources, education, and financial counseling at every stage of personal financial readiness. Support and financial counseling services include face-to-face appointments with individuals and family members, referrals to military and community resources, support for family members during deployments, and help with budgeting, credit/debt management and navigating benefits. 

Financial training and workshops are offered in the areas of Money Management, Thrift Savings Plan, Investing, Debt and Credit Management, Home Buying, Car Buying, Couples Finance, DCFSA, Youth Finance, and Raising Financially Fit Kids.  The M&FRC offers in-person training for all mandatory financial readiness touchpoints, which includes:  First Duty Station Enlisted and Officer, Transition (provided at 3-Day TAP Workshop), Relocation/PCS, Pre & Post Deployment, Vesting in Thrift Savings Plan, Promotion, Continuation Pay, Birth of First Child, Marriage, Divorce, and Disabling Sickness or Condition .

Possible other financial impacts or considerations for service members and families moving to the Omaha metropolitan area may include:

Average costs of buying and renting houses in the local area:

Average Cost Range to Buy 

• Bellevue: $289,000
• Papillion: $360,000
• LaVista: $255,000
• Springfield: $169,000
• Gretna: $372,500

Average Cost Range to Rent

• Bellevue - Apartment two-bedroom: $810 - $1,435
• Papillion - Apartment three-bedroom: $2,096 - $2,666
• LaVista - Single-Family two-bedroom: $1,345 - $1,900
• Springfield - Single-Family four-bedroom: $1,150 - $2,200
• Omaha - Single-Family four-bedroom: $1,850 - $2,800
• Omaha - Single-Family five-bedroom : $1,895 - $2,500

The property tax bill for homeowners depends on several factors, including a home's assessed value, school district, utilities district and whether the property is within city limits. For more information, contact your county assessor's office. Douglas County (Omaha) can be reached via phone at 402-444-7060 and Sarpy County (Bellevue, Papillion, LaVista) at 402-593-2122.

Total state sales tax ranges in both Nebraska and Iowa are 7.0 to 7.5%.  Local tax rates in Nebraska vary from 1.5% to 2% in Omaha, Bellevue, LaVista and Papillion as well as Council Bluffs, Iowa. Sales tax is not charged on consumable food items in either state.

Personal property tax is high on automobiles, campers, and boats. You may license your purchased vehicle as a nonresident for a standard fee.  However, if you choose to lease a car rather than buy, it will be considered a Nebraska-resident vehicle and subject to tax. You must have liability insurance on your vehicles and always carry a proof-of-insurance card and your registration in the car. Please contact your insurance agent for specific rates. 

Non-resident military are exempt from Nebraska state income tax.

If you need financial assistance while in transit, the American Red Cross (877-272-7337) is your best contact.  Remember although drawing advance pay is possible to cover moving expenses, the pay-back obligation can be significant to a household budget. Thus, it’s a good idea to try to accomplish the move with savings until you are reimbursed for the allowed expenses and allowances with your travel voucher.