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Kansas Property Taxes Increased Again in 2010
Transparency Site Highlights Change in Tax and Mill Rate by County
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While appraised values softened in many Kansas counties last year, property tax collections rose to a new high of $3.8 billion, an increase of 0.4 percent, and the average mill rate increased by 3.3 percent. Since 1997, property taxes have gone up by 93.7 percent. At the same time, inflation rose 32.7 percent and population increased by 10 percent. According to new data compiled by Kansas Policy Institute and posted on KansasOpenGov.org, property tax collections and mill rate changes are as varied as the 105 counties in Kansas. From 1997 to 2010, Leavenworth County increased property tax revenue by 174 percent while property tax collections increased by four percent in Coffey County. The same goes for mill rates, as Stanton County increased from 76.976 to 144.595 mills, an 88 percent increase, while Shawnee County decreased their mill rate by one percent, from 138.630 to 137.565 mills.
"Property taxes have a major impact on economic growth in Kansas and many low- and middle-income residents tell us they are being taxed out of their homes," said KPI President Dave Trabert. "According to The Tax Foundation, Kansas has the ninth most expensive property tax system on an affordability basis. The Minnesota Taxpayers Association annual survey of the largest cities in each state found that Wichita has the seventh highest effective tax rate on commercial property."
Overall, 39 counties have more than doubled their property tax collections since 1997, including 21 counties that had declining population over the same time period. KPI used data from the Property Valuation Division of the Kansas Department of Revenue that was obtained via Kansas' open records law. References to "County," as used in the database include all taxing jurisdictions within a county (cities, townships, school districts, county government, etc.).
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Trabert continued, "Without KansasOpenGov, it would have been very hard for someone in Logan County to compare their taxes to their neighbors Greeley County. Now, Logan County residents will know their taxes increased the most in the entire state between 2009 and 2010, 23.37 percent, while their neighbors in Greeley saw their taxes decline 15.33 percent."
In addition to a fully searchable database, an interactive county map is on the site that shows users how much each county's property tax, mill rate, population and residential assessed values changed from 1997 to 2010. With this map, users have a dynamic tool to compare data across county lines and easily access to the underlying data.
Highlights of Changes from 2009 to 2010 
Trabert concluded by saying, "Better data leads to better decisions. Everyone from county commissioners to concerned citizens now have access to the same, user-friendly information on which to base decisions."
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Kansas Policy Institute is an independent think-tank that advocates for free market solutions and the protection of personal freedom for all Kansans. Our work centers on state and local economic policy with primary emphasis on education, fiscal policy and health care. We empower citizens, legislators and other government officials with objective research and creative ideas to promote a low-tax, pro-growth environment that preserves the ability of governments to provide high quality services. To speak with Kansas Policy Institute, please contact James Franko at (316) 634-0218.
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