ABOUT AN HOUR LATER, NO ONE ELSE WAS HURT. THE FUTURE OF JACKSON COUNTY TAX DOLLARS IS UP FOR DISCUSSION IN JEFFERSON CITY. MISSOURI, STATE LAWMAKERS ARE LOOKING INTO CHANGING THE ASSESSMENT DEPARTMENT. WE’VE COVERED COMPLAINTS IN THE COUNTY FOR MONTHS NOW. KMBC NINE’S MATT EVANS SHOWS US WHERE THOSE IDEAS ARE HEADED NEXT. THERE ARE NEARLY 100 BILLS FILED IN JEFFERSON CITY LOOKING TO REFORM PROPERTY TAXES IN THE STATE. MANY OF THOSE ARE AIMED HERE AT JACKSON COUNTY. AFTER NEARLY 55,000 RESIDENTS APPEALED THEIR PROPERTY TAXES LAST YEAR. SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON PROPERTY TAX REFORM WILL NOW COME TO ORDER. LAWMAKERS WEIGHED SEVERAL OF THOSE IDEAS TODAY IN THIS COMMITTEE, INCLUDING ONE THAT WOULD CAP ANNUAL PROPERTY TAX INCREASES AT 2%. JACKSON COUNTY, SAINT LOUIS, UM, DOWN TO THE BOOT HILL, UP TO THE STATE LINE ON THE IOWA BORDER. I GET CALLS EVERY YEAR OF PEOPLE WHO ARE WORRIED ABOUT LOSING THEIR HOMES. AND TWO PROPOSALS LOOKING TO MAKE THE JACKSON COUNTY ASSESSOR AN ELECTED POSITION. CURRENTLY, IT’S APPOINTED BY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE. MANY PEOPLE IN JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI, BELIEVE THAT THEIR DIRECTOR OF TAX ASSESSMENT IS NOT ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE. BLUE SPRINGS REPUBLICAN DAN STACEY SPONSORED THAT RESOLUTION. HE SAYS IT’S A SIMPLE FIX TO GIVE VOTERS A SAY IN THE ASSESSMENT DEPARTMENT. THIS IS JUST SOMETHING I THINK IT BRINGS A SOME POWER TO THE CITIZENS. JACKSON COUNTY LEGISLATOR SEAN SMITH WAS ALSO THERE TO TESTIFY. WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IN JACKSON COUNTY IS AN ABSOLUTE DISTRUST OF GOVERNMENT, AND TOLD US HE IS CONFIDENT THAT THE LEGISLATURE IS TAKING PROPERTY TAX ISSUES VERY SERIOUSLY. AND I THINK THERE’S A PRETTY STRONG SUPPORT FOR SETTING SOME SORT OF CAP ON INCREASES SO THAT WE CAN PROTECT PEOPLE’S HOMES. UM, WE’VE TRIED FOR YEARS TO REFORM THINGS AND REQUIRE INSPECTIONS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. AND WHAT WE’RE SEEING IS THAT THAT CAN STILL BE ABUSED, AS IT WAS IN JACKSON COUNTY IN 2023, IN KANSAS CITY, MATT EVANS, KMBC NINE NEWS NOW, THAT COMMITTEE DIDN’T TAKE ANY ACTION ON THE BILLS. THE LANGUAGE THAT MAKES THE JACKSON COUNTY ASSESSOR AN APPOINTED POSITION IS IN THE MISSOURI CONSTITUTION, FULLY
Over 100 bills on property taxes filed in Jefferson City, with some focusing on Jackson County
Updated: 10:26 PM CST Jan 24, 2024
State lawmakers are discussing the future of Jackson County tax dollars. The assessment department has been a topic of complaints in the county for months, and nearly 100 bills have been filed in Jefferson City to reform property taxes in the state. Many of these bills are targeting Jackson County, after nearly 55,000 residents appealed their assessments in 2023. The special committee on property tax reform recently weighed several ideas, including one that would cap annual property tax increases to two percent. Another proposal being considered is making the Jackson County Assessor an elected position, instead of an appointed one by the County Executive. Blue Springs Republican Dan Stacy sponsored the resolution and believes this would give voters a say in the assessment department.Jackson County Legislator Sean Smith was also present at the hearing and stated that there is an absolute distrust of government in the county. Smith is confident that the legislature is taking property tax issues seriously and that there is strong support for setting some sort of cap on increases to protect people’s homes.”I think there’s pretty strong support for setting some sort of cap on increases so we can protect peoples homes,” Smith said. “We’ve tried for years to reform things and require inspections and what we’re seeing is that can still be abused as it was in Jackson county in 2023.”The committee did not take any action on the bills, but the language making the Jackson County Assessor an appointed position is in the Missouri Constitution, so fully changing that requires a statewide vote.Recent KMBC coverage of Jackson County property assessments:Prefiled bills in Missouri would make Jackson County assessor’s office an elected position, provide relief for seniorsAttorney general’s lawsuit against Jackson County seeks to void assessment increases above 15 percentClass action lawsuits against Jackson County, Tyler Technologies over property tax assessment process dismissed by Missouri Supreme CourtMissouri Attorney General files lawsuit against Jackson County over property tax assessment processKansas City attorney offers advice paying for paying Jackson County property taxes under protest’Deficiencies and noncompliance’ found in preliminary audit of 2023 Jackson County property tax assessment process
JACKSON COUNTY, Mo. —
State lawmakers are discussing the future of Jackson County tax dollars.
The assessment department has been a topic of complaints in the county for months, and nearly 100 bills have been filed in Jefferson City to reform property taxes in the state.
Many of these bills are targeting Jackson County, after nearly 55,000 residents appealed their assessments in 2023.
The special committee on property tax reform recently weighed several ideas, including one that would cap annual property tax increases to two percent.
Another proposal being considered is making the Jackson County Assessor an elected position, instead of an appointed one by the County Executive.
Blue Springs Republican Dan Stacy sponsored the resolution and believes this would give voters a say in the assessment department.
Jackson County Legislator Sean Smith was also present at the hearing and stated that there is an absolute distrust of government in the county.
Smith is confident that the legislature is taking property tax issues seriously and that there is strong support for setting some sort of cap on increases to protect people’s homes.
“I think there’s pretty strong support for setting some sort of cap on increases so we can protect peoples homes,” Smith said. “We’ve tried for years to reform things and require inspections and what we’re seeing is that can still be abused as it was in Jackson county in 2023.”
The committee did not take any action on the bills, but the language making the Jackson County Assessor an appointed position is in the Missouri Constitution, so fully changing that requires a statewide vote.