Earlier this summer, the Post asked our readers what issues you wanted to hear candidates in contested races address leading up to the Aug. 4 primary election.
Based on that feedback, we developed a five-item questionnaire centering the issues most important to residents across Johnson County.
Each day this week, we’ll publish the candidates’ responses to one question.
Today, we’re publishing candidates’ responses to the following question:
Property taxes are readers’ biggest concern, with many saying rising appraisals are pushing them out of their homes. In Topeka this year, lawmakers again failed to pass meaningful property tax relief. Gov. Kelly vetoed a local-spending cap measure, and a valuation-cap amendment died in the House. How would you break this stalemate as governor and deliver Kansans’ relief on the rising cost of living while protecting local services?
Below are the answers the Post received from candidates on the issue:
Ty Masterson / Jeffrey Klemp (Republican)
Kansas has a property tax crisis. The Legislature has enacted important reforms, including the Truth in Taxation law and repealing the statewide property tax mill levy so property taxes now fund only local government functions. However, property taxes are ultimately driven by local spending. As school districts, cities, counties, and other local governments increase their budgets, property taxes rise. The state cannot control every local budget, but it can establish guardrails to better protect taxpayers.
The Kansas Senate has repeatedly passed a constitutional amendment to fix the broken appraisal system, which has repeatedly stalled in the House. The Kansas Constitution currently prevents the Legislature from addressing runaway valuations or even freezing property taxes for seniors. I support an amendment that either caps valuation increases directly or gives the Legislature authority to do so, as many other states have successfully adopted.
Second, the Senate and House passed legislation to give citizens stronger tools to challenge local spending that drives property tax increases, but both versions were vetoed. Without these protections, local governments can simply raise mill levies and erase any relief. These reforms are included in my Homeowners’ Bill of Rights because meaningful, long-term property tax relief requires both.
Johnson County voters should also know that Democrats have consistently opposed these long-term reforms. Senators Holscher and Corson have voted against the above solutions. So, the best way to break the stalemate is to elect a new governor who is devoted to property tax relief rather than standing in the way.
Charlotte O’Hara / Michelle Dombrosky (Republican)
Out property tax system is broken with all of the tax giveaways through tax incentives. I support abolishing property taxes and institute a use tax, which would have specific exemptions stated in the Constitutional Amendment so that the legislature cannot simply pass a bill to give another favor through an exemption. I testified in favor of Senator Michael Murphy’s SB 488. Lots of work still needs to be done and cuts in the budget must be made.
Nick Reinecker / Katy Reinecker (Republican)
Real property tax relief starts at the local level with engaged citizens going to meetings, getting on boards, willing to serve on precinct committees, as poll workers and elected officials. This will bring accountability to the whole process from the individual to the Governor instead of the current facade of top-down politics. Practically, as governor, I will look at different ways at the state level to reduce or abolish property tax through the goal of producing a budget that is at pre-coronavirus identification 2019 levels. This will take cuts in increased spending that will not be popular, but necessary, if we are going to hold the line for the taxpayers. I will also look at strengthening programs that reduce or eliminate property tax for seniors and veterans. Finally, I will fight to deschedule cannabis (legalize marijuana) so we will stop creating the need for state spending in Law Enforcement, foster care, insurance/Medicaid including, and prison beds. This action will also help to reduce property taxes, both in short and long term timeframes and in both state and local governments
Stacy Rogers / Michael Smith (Republican)
The need to be able to work with the legislature is paramount. This is going to require a multi-faceted solution with the goal of drastically reducing and ultimately eliminating property and income tax. There are several plans that legislators already have in the works that could be layered to provide the needed relief while still providing funding for local governments. I am also exploring a recreation tax for out of state property owners who are not utilizing the land a certain percentage of the year.
Philip Sarnecki / Joy Eakins (Republican)
For three straight years, Ty Masterson and the career politicians in Topeka have failed to provide property tax relief to Kansans. However, they were able to provide tax relief to the corporations and special interests with the lobbyists. Data centers, foreign companies, green energy, and professional sports teams are all getting tax relief, but working people in Kansas are getting nothing. This is wrong. That will change once I’m governor.
As Governor, here’s how I will provide tax relief: First, stop giving out massive tax abatements to the giant corporations. If these tax abatements worked, the tax situation wouldn’t be so bad in Kansas. Second, eliminate current tax exemptions for green energy. There is no reason why hard working Kansans should be subsidizing green energy. Finally, grow the economy. As we grow the economy in Kansans, we will have more taxpayers and more people will be sharing the tax burden.
One of the first things I will do as Governor is bring in an independent, outside auditor, and audit every department, every agency, every penny of taxpayer dollars. Then, we will make the results public so everyone knows where their tax dollars are going. Then, we will eliminate the waste and fraud, so that we can lower our budget. As we lower the state budget, we will be able to lower taxes for Kansans so they can keep more of their hard earned dollars.
Vicki Schmidt / Joe Newland (Republican)
The Legislature has been playing games with property taxes and proposing political gimmicks that just don’t work. Joe and I will get the key stakeholders around the table to work on a plan that lowers property taxes without unfairly shifting the burden. Ensure the state is consistent with its appraisal guidance and training to prevent inconsistent implementation statewide. Provide predictability for all taxpayers while committing to a partnership with local governments that encourages them to streamline their operations just like we will at the state level. We support the three-legged stool that balances income, sales and property tax revenue to fund state government. We do not support any proposal to fully eliminate one of those legs. Government can and should be more efficient.
Scott Schwab / Ken Rahjes (Republican)
Property taxes are the number one issue I hear from Kansans. That’s why I created my nine-point BALD property tax plan nearly a year ago tackling the broken appraisal process as well as reasonable reductions to the state portion of your property tax burden. You can find the plan at scottschwab.com/BALD. The implementation of these proposals together can bring meaningful reduction to the number one financial issue Kansans are pointing to without the use of an artificial cap that local units of government believe unfairly tie their hands.
Ethan Corson / Renee Duxler (Democratic)
I am the only candidate in this race with a detailed plan to deliver property tax relief to working Kansans. My Working Families Agenda cuts property taxes for every Kansan, freezes property taxes for more seniors, restores the renter tax rebate that Brownback eliminated, and provides a $250 tax credit for every vehicle registered in Kansas. To ease the burden on homeowners, I introduced Senate Bill 309. This legislation would double the state 20-mill property tax exemption from the first $75,000 of a home’s value to $150,000, delivering substantial property tax relief. Cost relief cannot stop at homeownership; it must extend to the one-third of Kansans who rent. I propose restoring the renter homestead property tax refund that was eliminated in 2012. But we also need lasting solutions, so I will also establish a Property Tax Task Force to study what’s working in other states and develop a long-term plan that keeps taxes under control. My plan delivers real relief while ensuring essential local services remain funded. As the ranking Democrat on the Senate Tax Committee, I successfully led efforts to eliminate the state sales tax on groceries, remove taxes on Social Security benefits, freeze property taxes for fixed-income seniors, and eliminate sales taxes for 100% disabled veterans.
Cindy Holscher / KC Ohaebosim (Democratic)
Most of the recent proposals brought forward in the legislature have been nothing but gimmicks and political band aids that fail to address the root problem. First – corporations and the wealthiest 1% must pay their fair share. Kansas cannot maintain a balanced budget with continued tax cuts for the wealthy while families, seniors, and working Kansans shoulder the burden. Second – we must fully fund schools. When the state fails to fully fund special and general education, schools still have to find that money, and the burden shifts to the local level, often filled with higher residential property taxes. Third – we can increase revenue. Smart economic growth and exploring new options like legalizing medicinal cannabis will bring in millions that can help offset individual property taxes, without sacrificing a balanced budget or essential services.
More broadly, I’ll focus on lowering the everyday cost of living by expanding Medicaid, increasing housing supply, protecting consumers from utility cost increases, and ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent on Kansans, not on corporate giveaways. I don’t believe in supporting policies that promise quick-fix, but unsustainable relief, only to create larger budget problems down the road that Kansas families end up footing the bill for. Kansans deserve responsible, long-term relief that helps families stay in their homes while keeping our communities strong.
Curt Skoog / Jennifer Bacani McKenney (Democratic)
Kansans are being taxed out of homes they have lived in for decades, and Topeka keeps failing them. The burden has quietly shifted off commercial property and onto residential owners, while appraisals climb far faster than paychecks. Then the Legislature offered gridlock: a spending-cap bill Gov. Kelly rightly rejected as a “false promise,” and a valuation-cap amendment that died in the House. Families carry a bigger share for schools, roads, and first responders with nothing to show for it.
As mayor, I know the blunt tools they keep fighting over, hard caps on valuations or on spending, do not lower your cost of living. They starve the schools, roads, and services those taxes fund, and cities backfill with new fees. First, targeted relief for those squeezed hardest: a homestead “circuit-breaker” credit tied to income for seniors, veterans, and fixed-income homeowners, so help reaches families at risk of losing their homes, not the largest commercial holders. Second, fix the burden shift at its source: the biggest driver of your mill levy is the state pushing its obligations onto local taxpayers; when it fully funds special education and its K-12 share, your bill eases directly. Third, real transparency in appraisals, so no family is blindsided by a double-digit jump. And fourth, a real seat at the table for cities and counties, instead of Topeka mandating caps and walking away. That cuts the cost of living without gutting services families rely on.
Coming up:
Tomorrow we will publish the candidates’ responses to the following question:
Readers pressed hardest on fully funding public schools and special education in Kansas, with several noting that some Johnson County districts sued for their legally mandated share of special education dollars. Some readers also voiced concern about the impact of vouchers on public schools. How would you fund public schools and special education? Where do you stand on diverting public funds to go to vouchers?
