A program on how to appeal residential property taxes had a good turnout in Wyandotte County today.
More than 50 people turned out for the program March 12 at the Turner Recreation Center, along with about 60 in Piper and 40 in Bonner Springs, according to the program’s organizers. There were two other sites for the program as well.
Sponsored by the Wyandotte County GOP, the free workshop featured tax attorney Linda Terrill, who has successfully argued tax cases for large commercial properties, as well as for individuals, in the Kansas courts.
Terrill told those attending that they might start by asking a real estate agent how much their property is worth. They also might do some research by watching sales listings in their neighborhood and talking to neighbors about how much their property sold for. Also, some people ask tax consultants for their opinion. Don’t appeal it if you think the taxes are about average or on the low side, she advised.
If the residents think their valuations are too high after doing the research, they then could follow a process to appeal it, according to Terrill. They have 30 days after they receive their valuation notice, which is usually April 1 in Wyandotte County. Alternatively, residents can pay their taxes under protest.
Terrill offered tips on information that residents could offer to help their case, such as providing photos, and sales information in the neighborhood. She went through the various steps that residents could take to appeal their property tax valuations, and to appeal to a higher level if they were not satisfied.
Terrill also discussed recent state-level action in the Kansas Supreme Court and Kansas Legislature affecting this process. The Supreme Court has overturned a recent law that made county appraisers wait two years until they reappraised a home after an appeal. There is now another bill in the Kansas Legislature, House Bill 2714, that would reappraise all property every two years. But it is likely that part of the bill will not be addressed until 2017 to give them time to study the entire process.
Another part of House Bill 2714 addresses the topic of mixed use, she added. After the Kansas Court of Appeals said that mixed use was not allowed for these property tax purposes, several people who live on large tracts of properties with a house are paying more in property taxes, because agricultural use is not allowed for part of their property, she said.
“If we don’t get that changed, as of Jan. 1, 2017, the only parcels that will be permitted to have agricultural values will be those parcels that have no buildings on them, no houses or barns,” Terrill said. “That will come as a big surprise to western Kansas. They can have 180 acres and a house and suddenly the primary use is residential.”
The program today was introduced by former state senator Chris Steineger. He said the Wyandotte County GOP was offering something of practical value as a public service, and that there is general interest on the subject of the taxes on residents’ homes.
A lot of people try to appeal their taxes, lose and get angrier, he said. So the Wyandotte GOP decided to set up a workshop to show people how to successfully appeal their taxes, he said.
More workshops will be offered in the next few months about personal protection and safety, he said.
