The Kansas Senate has passed a plan that leadership says will limit property tax increases for residents across the state.
The Senate passed SCR 1611, a constitutional amendment to limit annual valuation increases at 4 percent for real property. There are exceptions if properties are renovated or sold.
17th District Senator Jeff Longbine of Emporia voted against the measure. The bill now goes to the Kansas House for possible legislative approval. If that step happens and Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signs the bill — or if the governor vetoes it and it’s overridden — residents would vote on whether it becomes law.
Senate President Ty Masterson says the current appraisal system isn’t working to protect residents, especially those on fixed incomes, and he says residents want some predictability in their respective valuation increases. Lyon County Appraiser Ryan Janzen says the bill as presented would cap valuations, but it would not cap property taxes and would not change anything for taxing entities, which still need to collect property tax dollars to operate.
Janzen also says the bill would not change anything about his office’s operations if it’s passed.
Lyon County had an average increase of almost 15 percent for residential properties over the past year, well above the 9-percent average increase reported last year. Commercial properties went up 8 percent from last year to this year.
