As a small business owner and America-first conservative, Joy has seen firsthand how property taxes punish hard work. It's time to stop the decline and deliver real relief. The Kansas Comeback puts Kansans first with bold, commonsense reforms to make our state the Epicenter of Entrepreneurship.
It's time for a property tax system that puts homeowners and entrepreneurs first. We need a fresh, outside perspective on this broken system. Here's how we'll fix property taxes once and for all:
Fair and Predictable Appraisals
Rising appraisals are a backdoor tax increase. Making appraisals fair and predictable will end the crushing squeeze of rising property taxes:
- Cap annual appraisal hikes at a reasonable level: 3% or inflation, whichever is less (can be reviewed if the property is sold).
- Ban appraisal systems that base comparable properties and homes in states outside Kansas. Comparables have to be from a similar community in Kansas.
- Reward innovation with exemptions for community enhancements, like the Riedels in Ellis County.
- Establish a four-year "Olympic average" in assessments to shield against sudden jumps.
Empowering Homeowners and Reforming the System
Career politicians have turned the tax process into a convoluted mess that hides wasteful spending. Joy's plan reminds government that they work for the people - not the other way around:
- Simplify appeals for overassessments, and give homeowners more time to appeal.
- Institute periodic regional assessment dispute sessions so homeowners don't have to go to Topeka to challenge their property tax bill.
- Appraisers must show their work in the initial increase notice so there's no guesswork for homeowners, and put the burden of proof on the government - not the homeowner.
- For all tax abatements, TIFFs, or similar projects, the authorizing organization has to publicize the amount of taxable property that is lost each year for each taxing entity that lost it.
- If property owners win a dispute, their property appraisal should be locked in for 3 years. Their legal fees and commercial appraisal fees should be covered by the government.
Establishing a Property Tax Relief Fund
To provide immediate relief, we'll mandate that local taxing entities create dedicated relief funds, seeded by budget surpluses, unspent revenues, and efficiencies from reforms:
- These funds will deliver targeted rebates or credits to hardworking families, seniors, and veterans.
- A portion of all new growth in the taxing district would go into the Property Tax Relief Fund, rather than just growing the government's bottom line.
- Potential alternative revenue sources could replace property taxes by filling this relief fund.