Press Release
August 8, 2006
For Immediate Release

The last time Sedgwick County voters had a say in stopping rising property taxes they overwhelmingly voted in 1997 to keep county government under the state's property tax lid. Almost 90 percent voted to stop the county from raising property taxes and keep a lid on property taxes. How did the county respond?

In 1999 the county along with their tax funded lobbying arm, the Kansas Association of Counties, and the rest of the local government lobby convinced the state legislature not to renew the property tax lid. So the tax lid died.

County Manager Bill Buchanan's August 8 editorial claims that the tax hike opponents have been inaccurate in claiming " ... a 16.2 percent ... " hike in county taxes is being proposed. Mr. Buchanan is the one who is mathematically challenged. The county appraiser is telling reporters and the public that taxable assessed value is going up six percent this year.

That means the average property owner will pay six percent more in property taxes assuming the mill levy is not raised. The county initially proposed a 12 percent mill levy hike. Then that was reduced at the county's last meeting in July to 10.2 percent.

When an increase of 6 percent is combined with 10.2 percent the total becomes 16.8 percent. At 12 percent the total is even higher. That is the county's portion of the total property tax bill. The state, city or township, and school district all impose property taxes too.

More advanced states like Colorado, Missouri, and Oklahoma require voter approval before property taxes (and even tax funded bonding) can be raised. Other advanced states like Ohio roll back mill levies to offset soaring tax appraisals. Sadly, all it takes to raise county property taxes in Kansas is a simple majority of the county commission. In addition, soaring appraisals have allowed elected officials to hide behind the appointed appraiser who has actually been raising tax appraisals. Ten years ago one mill took in $16 million statewide. Today it is over $31 million.

County Manager Buchanan's editorial did not mention the $367 million proposed spending in the county's 2007 budget. In 1997 the county spent $154 million. This is over 138 percent increase during this decade. County bonding per capita has also grown over 111% between 1996 and 2005.

If the county succeeds in raising property taxes, others governmental bodies will soon follow. The Wichita public school district is looking at another bond issue, despite huge increases in state spending. At the statehouse, the Regents Institutions lobbied the legislature to raise the statewide mill levy this year. Governor Sebelius proposed raising the statewide mill levy in 2004. Fortunately, these statewide property tax hikes were rejected by legislators.

Sedgwick County's total property taxes are not as high as many of other Kansas counties. One major reason is that many of our neighboring counties have community colleges that impose an additional mill levy. Wichita Area Technical College is transforming itself into the equivalent of a community college and their appointed board is trying to become another property tax dependent. Community colleges were kept out of counties where Regents Institutions like Wichita State University are located.

July 28, 2006 USA Today reported on federal Census Department data showing that in 2004 Kansas property taxes were the highest in our five state region and 14th highest per capita among all 50 states. High property taxes hurt the economy. The risk and uncertainty of trying to operate and grow a business in a state where there is no limit on local taxes makes this state uncompetitive with our neighbors. Businesses and jobs are leaving Kansas along with former governor Bill Graves and many young people who can't find jobs. Sedgwick County should not raise property taxes.