City, county officials object to Kansas Senate’s property tax ‘transparency’ bill

Garden City Mayor Troy Unruh considers a Kansas Senate bill touted as a boon for property tax transparency to be a hamstring on the capacity of local public agencies to create jobs.

The bill targeting tax revenue increases resulting from higher property valuations led Harvey County Commissioner Randy Hague, of Newton, to declare it an erosion of municipal government autonomy. Andover City Council President Troy Tabor said the process outlined in the bill was overly burdensome and complex enough it could result in the opposite of transparency. The bill won’t do anything to limit the state’s collection of property taxes, said Garnett city manager Christopher Weiner.

McPherson Fire Chief T.J. Wyssmann said the “truth in taxation” legislation restricted the city’s ability to fulfill obligations to public safety because it wouldn’t exempt fire, medical and police agencies. Compliance will force acquisition of computer