The Kansas Legislature’s efforts to reset property tax policy took another step forward in the Kansas Senate on Thursday.
The chamber voted 28-12 in favor of a constitutional amendment designed to cap year-to-year growth of real property or residential mobile home personal property taxable value at 3 percent. The vote tally was significant because it was above the two-thirds majority needed to advance the bill to the House before a decision by Governor Laura Kelly and, possibly, a two-thirds vote of the people for the amendment to become law.
Senate President Ty Masterson says this will provide more transparency and certainty to residents. It also mirrors the state’s current policy on local spending, where local governing boards have to vote if they plan to go above revenue-neutral figures.
17th District Senator Mike Argabright was in favor of Senate Concurrent Resolution 1603.
Earlier this session, the Senate approved SB 10, designed to exempt a number of residential vehicles from property tax, including watercraft, trailers, motorized bicycles and snowmobiles, and SB 35, set to eliminate a 1.5-mill spending amount for state educational and institutional buildings. The House has been working on realigning property tax policy regarding public school funding levies.
