Overland Park’s 2025 budget keeps the municipal property tax rate flat but brings in more money.
That new budget — valued at roughly $467.8 million — keeps the property tax rate, or mill levy, static at 14.525 mills. However, most homeowners can expect the portion of their property tax bill that goes to the city to go up some.
On Monday, the Overland Park City Council voted 11-0 to exceed the revenue neutral rate, but 10-1 to approve the full 2025 budget package and five-year capital improvement plan.
Councilmember Jeff Cox cast the dissenting vote on the budget because he’d hoped to see the property tax rate dropped back to its 2021 level. However, he voted to exceed the revenue neutral rate in protest of that state standard.
Mayor Curt Skoog and Councilmember Jim Kite were absent from the meeting.
The breakdown: How will this affect your tax bill?
For 2025, Overland Park is keeping its property tax rate at 14.525 mills. That is the lowest property tax rate of all Johnson County cities.
Per the real estate statistics maintained by Johnson County, Overland Park’s average residential property value is $498,188, up about 6%.
To calculate what your actual tax bill to the city will be, multiply the value of your home by .115 (the residential assessment rate). From there, divide that number by 1,000. Finally, multiply the result by the mill levy rate of 14.525.
The average homeowner in Overland Park will pay about $832 in property taxes to the city.
Last year, the same homeowner paid about $787.32 in property taxes to Overland Park.
Remember: Your total annual property tax bill will also include rates set by other taxing authorities, including Johnson County and the school district you live in.
Overland Park adopts $468M budget for 2025
- Overland Park’s 2025 budget includes the general fund, special revenue funds, sales taxes and other items.
- In all, Overland Park anticipates a budget of $467.8 million.
- That budget is about 8.6%, or $37 million, more than what was approved for 2024.
- That means the budget is not revenue neutral under state statute. The standard requires municipalities to collect the same amount of money in property taxes each year regardless of new growth or inflation.
- To have a revenue neutral budget for 2025, Overland Park would have needed to lower its mill levy rate to 13.714 mills and cut about $4.3 million from its budget.
Residents bring up Bluejacket Pool, fixed incomes in budget hearings
- During the budget hearings ahead of the budget approvals on Monday, several residents spoke about their wish to see the city add $10 million for the reconstruction of the recently decommissioned Bluejacket Pool.
- City staff estimates that a complete rebuild of the pool would likely cost between $12 million and $15 million, though it’s uncertain whether the city will decide to do that at all.
- The future of the pool property will be determined by the ongoing parks and recreation master plan process, which will wrap up early next year.
- Additionally, others spoke about their concerns that rising property tax bills will make it hard for aging individuals and people on fixed incomes to stay in their homes.
- Some proposed an alternative tax structure for seniors and veterans, though the parameters for municipal budgeting processes are set at the state level.
City council mostly supportive of 2025 budget
Generally, councilmembers were supportive of the budget as proposed and ultimately adopted.
“I hear from folks who want better amenities in their neighborhoods. I hear from folks who want nicer roads. I hear folks who want us to have a fully staffed police department and fire department, and who want our public servants who put their lives at risk to be paid fairly,” said Councilmember Melissa Cheatham. “This is a budget that is responsible and meets those needs that our community desires.”
Multiple councilmembers noted that, with a lower mill levy rate, Overland Park puts less property tax burden on its residents than some of its neighbors in an “apples to apples” comparison.
For example, the average homeowner in Olathe will pay more than $1,900 in property taxes to the city next year.
“We are very efficient with how we spend our dollars,” said Council President Logan Heley. “I think we’re trying to invest more in key areas that our community desires, and I think this is a fiscally responsible way of going about doing it.”
However, Councilmember Cox took issue with attempts to draw comparisons between different cities, noting that Overland Park has a much larger commercial tax base than other cities do and more sales tax collection potential.
“Lining up and pretending like it’s just about property taxes is completely apples to — I don’t even know what — might not even be another fruit,” he said.
Overland Park starting property tax rebate in 2025
- Following in the footsteps of other cities in Johnson County, Overland Park has set aside $200,000 to pilot a property tax rebate program for 2025.
- The exact parameters for the new rebate program remain undecided, but past discussions of the issue have suggested the city might put a cap on rebate amounts, limit it to owner-occupied residences and require recipients to be current on their taxes.
- Income qualifications and age restrictions have also been discussed.
- More discussion is likely to come at the Overland Park City Council Finance, Administration and Economic Development Committee in the near term, though the timeline is unclear.
Keep reading: Park upgrades, street overhauls — Overland Park plans major projects for next 5 years
