Friday, May. 09, 2008

Property tax relief could be coming for Jackson County

By Miranda Wycoff

The Journal Staff

On Tuesday the newly formed Jackson County Assesment Review Commission held a public hearing to gather input from citizens and property owners in Jackson County to explore ways to decrease property taxes. Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders introduced the Commission members, who include Angelo Mancini, chair, Rafaela Garcia, Rev. Kim L. Gladney, Molly McGovern, Phil Perry, Derek Ramsey, Molly Korth Williams and ex-officio member, Curtis Koons, Jackson County director of assessment. In January 2008, Sanders established the Assessment Review Commission to evaluate the process of assessing real estate and personal property values in Jackson County in an effort to ensure property tax assessments are fair for everyone. “We’ve begun to see a dramatic rise in our property tax values,” Sanders said during the Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council meeting in April. “We are overvalued as a community in terms of property taxes and our goal is to take a hard look at reducing the property tax values over the next 12 to 24 months.” The commission will gather public input and prepare a report for Sanders later in the year, said Jeph BurroughsScanlon, Jackson County public information officer. “There were lots of suggestions thrown around about how things could be changed and done differently, if not better,” BurroughsScanlon said about Tuesday’s meeting. He said Sanders and the review commission intend to take the public comments seriously and also conduct their own assessment of the property tax assessment and appraisal process in Jackson County. In addition to the public hearings, the commission also is providing an opportunity for public input to be provided through the Jackson County Web site. Residents and property owners can post comments, suggestions or questions regarding issues the Assessment Review Commission should consider and be aware of in their review process and the comments will go to each member of the Commission for his or her consideration. BurroughsScanlon said the Commission members are community activists and professionals in the property tax field. “This was a good opportunity for the public to have their input, but ultimately I think Sanders wants their professional input,” BurroughsScanlon said. “All of them live in Jackson County, so obviously they have their own property taxes and experiences to bring to the Commission.” In April, Sanders said the reason property taxes in Jackson County have been rising is because his predecessor was told Jackson County had to catch up on 15 years of taxes. “They over corrected and that’s why you are seeing massive jumps in property tax rolls,” Sanders said. A second public hearing is scheduled for Tueday, June 17. The location is yet to be determined, but according to a news release, will be somewhere in Eastern Jackson County. For more information on the Assessment Review Commission or to submit a comment for the Commission, visit www.jacksongov.org.