Financial Assistance

The M&FRC provides resources, education, and personal financial counseling at every stage of financial readiness. Financial workshops are offered in the areas of Thrift Savings Plan, Investing, Debt Management, Home Buying, Car Buying, Paying for College, Couples Finance, Youth Finance, and Raising Financially Fit Kids. 

Mandatory Financial Readiness Touchpoints we offer in-person includes: First Duty Station Officer, Transition (provided at 3-Day TAP Workshop), Pre-Post Deployment, Relocation/PCS, Birth of First Child, Marriage, Divorce, Promotion, Thrift Savings Plan BRS Vesting

Local financial impacts for service members and families moving to the Omaha Metropolitan area may include considerations such as:

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

Average Cost Range to Buy 

• Bellevue East: $215,000 - $350,000
• Bellevue West: $275,000 - $510,000
• Papillion: $300,000 - $500,000
• LaVista: $250,000 - $310,000
• Springfield: $275,000 - $400,000
• Millard: $310,000 - $425,000 
• Gretna: $300,000 - $450,000

Average Cost Range to Rent

• Bellevue East - Apartment one-bedroom: $950 - $1,300
• Bellevue West - Apartment two-bedroom: $1,075 - $1,500
• Papillion - Apartment three-bedroom: $1,350 - $2,000 
• LaVista - Single-Family two-bedroom: $1,150 - $2,200
• Springfield - Single-Family four-bedroom: $1,150 - $2,200
• Millard - Single-Family four-bedroom: $1,400 - $3,800
• Gretna - Single-Family five-bedroom: $2,250 - $3,800

Average utility costs vary from $100 to $250.

The property tax bill for homeowners depends on a number of 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.

State sales tax range from 7.0 to 7.5% in both Nebraska and Iowa. Local tax rates in Nebraska vary from 1 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 must carry a proof-of-insurance card and your registration in the car at all times. Please contact your insurance agent for specific rates. 

Non-resident military are exempt from state income tax.

If you need financial assistance while in transit, the nearest American Red Cross office is your best contact. Although drawing advance pay is possible to cover moving expenses, the pay-back obligation can be damaging to a household budget. 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.