The Kansas City Star weighs in on Jackson County assessor Question 1 | Opinion

On Nov. 4, Jackson County voters have to decide whether they want to elect their assessor. The county is the only charter county in the state of Missouri with an appointed assessor.

The issue of whether to endorse electing or appointing the county assessor is a complicated one, but its origins are simple: It comes in the aftermath of the county’s recent unchecked assessment increases, the recall of County Executive Frank White, and the Jackson County Legislature itself proposing this change.

To be sure, the upcoming vote of election or appointment is not the only possible initiative. After the tax increases and the fallout from homeowners, Missouri state lawmakers have called for Jackson County to move to an elected assessor. Even if voters confirm the present appointment strategy, it might not be the last we hear of this.

Is there a reason that we should stay with the status quo?

The Star Editorial Board talked to the Jackson County Legislature chairman, the executive director of the International Association of Assessing Officers and civic leaders in Kansas City. We also researched which strategies have been found to be most effective.

From our investigation, and to best represent the people, The Star recommends a yes vote on Question 1 “to require that the Charter Office of the Jackson County Assessor no longer be a qualified appointee and instead be an elected position.”

From ordinance to Question 1

Let’s see how we got here.

On June 30, local election officials confirmed they had enough Frank White recall signatures to go to a vote. About two weeks later, the Legislature acted to put what is now Question 1 (formerly Ordinance 5989) on the November ballot.

Critics of White, who was recalled on Sept. 30, maintained the mishandling of property tax assessments caused the recall election. White appointed the current assessor, Gail McCann Beatty.

(To be clear, our endorsement is not about Beatty, but about whether the people should have a say in choosing this important position.)

Jackson County Legislature Chairman DaRon McGee sent out a county press release on July 17, pushing for the assessor to be elected:

“By overriding the veto of Ordinance 5989, we ensure Jackson County voters get to decide this November whether to elect their county assessor — if approved, it will make that office directly accountable to the people, restore trust in an appraisal process that has broken under the current administration, and prevent potential state interference through a statewide ballot question that would cost taxpayers up to $9 million.”

McGee, quoted in the release, said, “Today, we stood up for fairness, transparency — and the right of voters to decide.”

Election or appointment?

Many experts say electing an assessor is best. In a recent Star guest commentary, Tim Boncoskey – who served as 2019 president of the International Association of Assessing Officers – said he supports electing assessors for two reasons, accountability and independence.

“Elected assessors are directly accountable to the people of their jurisdiction. Appointed assessors are beholden to the fiscal policy and sometimes the political agenda of their appointing officials. In some jurisdictions, appointed assessment professionals have many layers of government hierarchy to report to for decision-making, but no direct accountability to the people. This is a main crux of the issue here in Jackson County.”

Boncoskey cited studies from as far back as 1989, and just 10 years ago in 2015, that say assessments administered by an elected official are more cost-efficient than by an appointed one.

Amy Rasmussen, current executive director of IAAO, told us the organization does not endorse appointment or election, adding they can be equally effective. What’s more important, she said, is whether assessors have the support and resources they need to do their jobs.

“Regardless of which way you hire the assessor, or however the assessor becomes the person in charge of that office, it’s incumbent upon the local jurisdiction to make sure that you’re giving them the resources that they need to be successful.”

We agree that an assessor needs support and resources.

Gwendolyn Grant, CEO of the Urban League of Greater Kansas City, stressed that keeping the public aware and involved is of the utmost importance. “It’s a high-stakes role and it requires transparency and accountability. I think that we’re better served by having someone elected to office and therefore, if that person does not exercise or fulfill their responsibility, the voters have the ability to vote them out of office, or if it is extreme recall them.”

Whether the Jackson County assessor is elected or appointed is a big decision — one that we don’t take lightly. The election of future assessors would mean voters must do their homework and show up to vote for their choice. Candidates must prove why they are the right person to do the job.

But in today’s world of voter voices continually being silenced, more accountability is always better. We endorse a yes vote on Question 1.