Legislative Update by State Senator Caryn Tyson
February 7, 2025
Property Taxes are high, and most people would agree the system is not always accurate or fair, so the Senate acted by passing a constitutional amendment, Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 1603, to limit taxable valuation increases of real property to a maximum of 3% a year, unless certain triggers occur. Local governments often rely on skyrocketing valuations to collect more property taxes. SCR 1603 would limit the tax value of real properties so local governments would have to vote to raise the mill levy, providing more transparency to property tax increases.
The SCR would have to pass the House and then voters would decide to amend the Kansas Constitution and limit taxable valuation increases each year or not. It passed the Senate on a bipartisan vote 28 to 11. I voted yes.
Election ends on election day, SB 4, would require all ballots to be returned by 7 p.m. on election, not three days later. It passed the Senate 29 to 10. I voted yes.
Rank choice voting, where you can rate the candidates on the ballot by selecting your first choice, your second choice, your third chose and so on, would be banned in Kansas if SB 6 becomes law. It is a voting system in which the candidates are ranked when you vote. It’s difficult to count and can delay election results. SB 6 passed 29 to 10. I voted yes to ban this election system in Kansas.
Budgets can be used for political volley. It’s disappointing but it does happen. To correct this, the Senate passed Senate Bill (SB) 14 so that if a budget is not passed into law by June 30th, then the state government would not shut down because the previous year’s budget would be adopted. It passed the Senate 31 to 8. I supported this effort.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.
Property tax has devolved into a wealth tax. Homeowners do not make money off of their homes, and business owners’ property does not always correlate with their income (which would apply to farming also)
Taxes are paid with money that a home does NOT produce, usually from someone’s income, which is pretty static for especially for retirees. We need to rethink Property taxes. I think it makes more sense to tax income, since that is what is used to pay Property taxes. Maybe exceptions for automobiles and second homes, which could be more “fair” things to apply a wealth tax to.
Excellent points !
From the article; “Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 1603, to limit taxable valuation increases of real property to a maximum of 3% a year, unless certain triggers occur.”
A property tax increase of 3% a year may sound reasonable on paper, but in reality in 10 years time that equates to a 30% increase in property taxes !