TOPEKA — A Senate committee endorsed a proposed constitutional amendment that would cap annual increases to appraised property values at 3%, and roll back the clock to 2022 assessments.
Republicans on the Senate tax committee said during debate Wednesday that the cap was just part of the solution for easing the property tax burden on homeowners.
“We all know that this constitutional amendment will not lower property tax, right? said Sen. Stephen Owens, R-Hesston. “And I want to be clear, we put that out there, will not lower it. May slow the growth, but it will not lower it.”
Owens said he hopes the committee also will look at ways to limit mill levies that local governments can assess.
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The committee is considering a variety of measures to address property taxes, including legislation that would provide a tax refund when a house sells for below the appraised value.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 1616 would require county appraisals in 2027 to be no more than 3% higher than the values as assessed in 2022, and it would limit year-to-year increases after that to 3%. If two-thirds of the full Senate and House were to approve the resolution, voters in the August primary would have the opportunity to rewrite the state constitution with the 3% cap.
Sen. Jeff Klemp, R-Lansing, noted that by going back to 2022 appraisals, the amendment would provide some immediate relief in lowering property tax bills.
During an earlier hearing on the proposed constitutional amendment, opponents complained that it would have the effect of shifting the burden of funding local government services to other taxes.
“I did spend several hours yesterday evening on the phone with several county commissioners across the state taking a look,” said Sen. Caryn Tyson, R-Parker, who chairs the tax committee. “They all understand that we have to move on property taxes. So, may not be an agreement on the movement, but they understand this is part of the puzzle.”
After advancing SCR 1616 on Wednesday, the committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 319, which would allow residential, commercial and industrial property owners to apply for a tax rebate if property sells for less than the appraised value.
Sen. Mike Thompson, R-Shawnee, introduced the bill. He told the committee he was upset that the Johnson County appraiser compared his 24-year-old home to newly built homes and one directly on a golf course to determine its value. He blamed the unfair comparisons for a 6.5% increase in his appraisal last year.
“We’ve been, basically, in my personal experience, overpaying tax, what I believe to be overpaying tax, for quite some time on the property based on the assigned value, based on the comparables,” Thompson said.
He said he understands the job of appraisers is difficult but that he thinks the bill will force them “to get as close as they can.”
Under the bill, property owners could seek a refund for property taxes paid in excess of the actual sale price for the year of the sale, as well as the past four years.
The committee received written testimony from eight proponents, including the Kansas Chamber and individual taxpayers. The Kansas Association of Counties and League of Kansas Municipalities opposed the bill.
Jay Hall, with the Kansas Association of Counties, told the committee that residential appraisals actually average about 93% of the sale price.
Kansas Reflector is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Kansas Reflector maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Sherman Smith for questions: info@kansasreflector.com. Follow Kansas Reflector on Facebook and Twitter.
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