Tonight we focus on a critical exchange between a Missouri regulatory agency and the elected leadership at the courthouse.
An explainer quote from local news about a ruling today . . .
"The Missouri State Tax Commission ruled on Wednesday that Jackson County must roll back the assessment values on 75% of the county’s more than 300,000 property parcels due to errors by the county’s assessment department . . .
"The order filed late Wednesday from the State Tax Commission cite multiple errors in the assessment process, which led to higher tax bills for thousands of people across the county.
"The commission says the county did not physically inspect some properties. Those inspections are required when valuations increase 15%.
"The order says the county did not notify property owners whose valuations went up that much and then made it hard, and in some cases, impossible for people to appeal their assessments."
Accordingly . . .
THIS ORDER IS SERIOUS AND DEFYING THE MISSOURI COMMISH & THE EXEC CALLING THEM "RECKLESS" IS UNPRECEDENTED!!!
Not to be too hyperbolic but this is a blog and when we say serious we mean . . .
Seriously like . . . Missouri State Trooper serious.
As a real person who, in real life, wants everybody to get along . . . We REALLY hope the Exec knows what he's doing when he's playing with/at these stakes.
Accordingly . . .
Here is a lengthy response from the county sent out this afternoon . . .
Jackson County rejects State Tax Commission's order as politically motivated and inaccurate
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Jackson County unequivocally rejects the State Tax Commission’s (STC) recent order issued today, deeming it both inaccurate and dangerously politicized. The STC’s order is a desperate, last-minute maneuver before the conclusion of a trial on related issues. It is nothing more than a litigation tactic from politically motivated actors who are ill-informed and acting in bad faith.
Our reassessment plans for 2023 and 2024 were reviewed and approved by the STC. Despite this, and without any hearings or evidence, the Commission now asserts that we failed to meet statutory requirements. This claim is baseless. Even the State’s own “expert” acknowledged on social media that they failed to prove their case. Furthermore, the original order received by the County notably included the signature of a commissioner who had recused himself from the vote—an alarming indication of the unprofessional and haphazard manner this process has been conducted.
The consequences of this order would be disastrous for our community. Local school districts have made it clear that such an order could cost them nearly $1,500 per student—a crippling blow to our educational system. But the damage wouldn’t stop there. Libraries, fire departments, and cities across the county would face serious budget cuts, which would negatively impact the essential services our residents depend on every day. Amicus briefs from the school districts detailing these harmful effects are attached.
Fairness in property assessment is not just a legal duty but a moral obligation. Property tax differs fundamentally from sales tax: when one property is undervalued, others must pay more to fill the gap.
“For too long, many homes have been undervalued, forcing others to overpay,” said Jackson County Assessor Gail McCann Beatty. “We cannot and will not allow this injustice to continue. We will do our jobs and uphold the law by assessing properties at market value, regardless of these political games.”
“Our mission is to provide a fair and equitable process where no one pays more than the law requires,” said Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. “This reckless order is harmful to not only taxing jurisdictions, but also taxpayers. While fixing decades of mismanagement hasn’t been easy, we are committed to fairness and will continue working every day to achieve it. Actions like this do immense harm to our communities.”
The issue of unequal property assessments has long been a critical concern, particularly in its disproportionate impact on Black and Brown communities. Research consistently shows that these communities often face higher property tax assessments relative to their home's market value compared to predominantly white neighborhoods. This discrepancy can exacerbate economic inequality and contribute to systemic disadvantages in housing and wealth accumulation. Two reports detailing these disparities are linked here:
How the property tax system harms Black homeowners and widens the racial wealth gap
The Color of Wealth in the Nation's Capital
Jackson County will explore all legal avenues to protect our taxpayers, schools and essential services from this politically motivated attack. Fairness will prevail, and we will not allow our community to be sacrificed for political gain.
###
And . . .
Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .
State Tax Commission orders Jackson County to fix some 2023 assessments
Thousands of Kansas City property owners appealed to the tax commission after their appeals to the county's Board of Equalization failed.
Missouri Tax Commission orders changes to 2023 Jackson County property assessments
All residential properties whose values increased by more than 15 percent will have to be rolled back to that 15 percent increase level, excluding increases caused by new construction.
Missouri tax commission orders values rolled back on 75% of Jackson County properties
Jackson County says the tax commission ruling would cripple public school district budgets, if it is allowed to stand.
State commission orders Jackson County to correct property value assessments
The State Tax Commission cite multiple errors in the assessment process, which led to higher tax bills for thousands across the county.
Developing . . .
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