Wichita, Kansas (KAKE) — Kansas property taxes continue to rise, leaving people upset because they pay some of the highest rates in the region. Rising house values, inflation-driven government spending, and state budget requirements all add to the strain.
This year, Sedgwick County homeowners saw a median 10% gain in their property values. Officials have explored using sales taxes to fund arts and recreation initiatives in order to alleviate property tax constraints.
Rosa Molina, a Derby resident for over 40 years, addressed the challenges: “Property taxes continue to rise, but Social Security and pensions do not. “It is not a balance.” She went on to say that pensioners face a special challenge in saving all year to pay taxes at the end.
Others are further upset by comparisons to adjacent states such as Missouri.
“I own property in Missouri with roughly the same value as my Kansas property, yet my Missouri taxes are less than half,” a Wichita citizen noted.
Between 1997 and 2018, property taxes in Kansas grew by 151%, more than double the inflation rate. Kansas also leads the country in rural property taxes, with a typical annual payment of $1,625.
Local officials and experts have proposed state constitutional amendments to limit growth and balancing state income and property taxes to alleviate the load. Residents are currently saving to meet rising bills—and wondering what comes next.
The second half of property tax payments is due on May 10.