We KCK residents love our homes, but we can’t afford these tax increases | Opinion

I’ve owned property in Kansas City, Kansas, since 2013. Like many residents here, I value the stability this community provides. So when I received a “Notice of Proposed Property Tax Increase and Public Hearing,” I felt the weight of the announcement deeply — because this is more than just numbers on paper. This is home.

The notice indicates that if the mill levy were adjusted to the revenue neutral rate, property taxes in Wyandotte County and KCK would decrease — a fiscally responsible option. Yet, the proposed 2025 tax levy would instead raise that rate by roughly 9% for both Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas. To be clear, the other taxing authorities — such as the library and Kansas City Kansas Community College — are not proposing mill levy increases this year and remain at their 2024 levels. Piper schools are the exception, with a proposed increase of 5%. Taken together, this still leaves homeowners facing a substantial additional burden, driven largely by the county and city rates.

For me, that 9% increase, combined with a 2% rise in my appraisal, means an effective increase of about 11% from my perspective.

This increase is far greater than the actual inflation rate. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, inflation stood at 2.9% in 2024 and is estimated at 2.7% for the 12 months ending July 2025. Expecting tax increases that outpace inflation — especially on homeowners’ primary residences — feels unjust.

My concern is not merely personal. A year ago, I attended a public hearing on property taxes. I listened as neighbors — lifelong Kansas Citians — shared that they might have to leave their family homes because of escalating tax burdens. That moment mirrored the broader anxiety sweeping our community: families fearing eviction not for lack of income, but because of rapidly rising taxes.

Against that backdrop, a 9% jump in city and county taxes, plus a 5% school levy increase for some, is crushing. Pushing tax growth ahead of inflation and appraisal values risks forcing families from homes they’ve invested in for decades. That goes beyond affordability — it undermines community.

County and Unified Government officials repeatedly emphasize limited budgets and growing needs. Indeed, infrastructure, services and decent public facilities matter. But in the face of real-world pain being voiced at public meetings, I implore local leaders to prioritize fiscally responsible restraint. Those increases should be grounded in inflation and appraisal trends, not exceed them.

In this regard, targeting a property tax increase aligned with the actual appraisal growth — about 2% — feels prudent and compassionate. It balances fiscal needs with residents’ well-being. It shows support for working and fixed-income families who cannot absorb double-digit tax hikes.

With a public hearing looming on Aug. 26, I respectfully urge decision-makers to present clear, transparent financial models that justify any proposed increases. We need to know exactly where funds are going, what efficiencies are being explored and how the government will protect vulnerable homeowners.

As a property owner since 2013, I believe in supporting our city and county. I believe in public services funded equitably. But I also believe in fairness. Tax policies that outpace inflation and push families from homes erode trust and destabilize the neighborhoods that make KCK strong.

To those drafting the final budget: Hear the voices at the hearings, understand the data — and exercise restraint. For the sake of our community, let property taxes grow only as fast as home values and inflation allow.

David Beauchamp is a retired Army chaplain and currently works for a Kansas Christian nonprofit organization. He and his wife live on a small farm in northern Kansas City, Kansas.

This story was originally published August 24, 2025 at 5:08 AM.