Bourbon County Appraiser Matt Quick has resigned, with his last working day set for August 18. In a letter emailed to all five county commissioners Monday evening, Quick said he and his wife “have been presented with an exciting opportunity to embark on a new life adventure,” and called leaving the office “bittersweet.”
The letter, sent shortly after 5 p.m. on Monday, August 3, was addressed to the commission and copied to the County Clerk’s office, Treasurer Jennifer Hawkins, and the Register of Deeds.
The office he leaves. The county appraiser values all taxable real and personal property in Bourbon County each year, houses, farmland, commercial buildings, vehicles, and business equipment. Those valuations are the base on which the county, cities, school districts, and other taxing entities levy property taxes. Under Kansas law (K.S.A. 19-430), the appraiser is appointed by resolution of the county commission for a four-year term, and an appointee must have at least three years of mass appraisal experience and hold a state credential, either the Registered Mass Appraiser (RMA) designation Quick mentions in his letter, or a certified general real property appraiser’s license.
Quick’s letter counts eight years of service to the community. Commission records show he has led the office since July 2021, when commissioners named him interim county appraiser by Resolution 22-21; a Kansas Department of Revenue compliance reviewer praised his work before the commission that December, and his reappointment to a new four-year term came before the commission in the summer of 2025.
His departure is one of two from the office this month: Quick writes that his personal property manager is also leaving, with a last day of August 14. He notes that no state reports or analysis are due until October, which he says gives the commission time to find a replacement who can do their own analysis for the 2027 tax year, and that Matthew Booker, the county’s district representative with the state Property Valuation Division, will guide commissioners through candidates.
His letter follows in full.
Dear Commissioners,
After much thought and consideration, I am formally submitting my resignation as County Appraiser for Bourbon County, with my last working day being August 18, 2026.
Serving this community for the past eight years has been both an honor and a privilege. I am deeply grateful for the trust placed in me, the collaboration with dedicated colleagues, and the opportunity to contribute to the county’s growth and success.
My wife and I have been presented with an exciting opportunity to embark on a new life adventure, and while I am eager for what lies ahead, leaving this role and the people I’ve worked alongside is bittersweet.
I will be informing Matthew Booker who is our District Rep with Property Valuation Division with the state to let them know. They will be your guides for candidates to replace me as they must be an RMA with the state to qualify. My office will be self-sustainable for the next few months. There are no reports or analysis for the state that needs to be done until October. This will allow you to find a replacement and they will be able to do their own analysis for the 2027 tax year. My Personal Property manager is also leaving and last day will be on the 14th so they can find the right person for them in that position as well. My field appraisers Mike and Herb have been faithful hard-working employees that brave the elements and the people of Bourbon County and will continue to do their jobs at the highest level after I am gone. Janet my office manager has been with the county since 2008. She is a wealth of knowledge about running all aspects of the department and is a loyal and trustworthy employee. She will keep things running smoothly in my absence. I hope that the employees in my office will be treated with respect and dignity that long term dedicated assets that they deserve.
Thank you for the support, guidance, and friendship I have experienced during my tenure. Bourbon County will always hold a special place in my heart.
With sincere appreciation,
Matt Quick
The appraiser’s office is in the county courthouse at 210 S. National Ave. FortScott.biz will follow the commission’s search for a successor as it develops.