By Gina Long
Like most Reno County property owners this past week, I received a shock in the mail.
My property taxes went up, and not by an insignificant amount.
The mill levies didn’t go up. Property valuations have exploded over the last 4 years. As stated in a previous editorial, my house’s valuation has increased 65 percent since 2018.
That is a crazy amount, reflecting the amounts buyers have been paying for Reno County properties.
It is frustrating because our taxes, although the mill levies remain the same or bond debt has been refinanced at lower borrowing costs, continue to rise because of property valuation.
Housing scarcity, particularly starter homes for working-class families, drives higher sales prices. Reno County’s negative housing growth impacts even the most humble property’s market value.
Higher valuations make staying in one’s home less affordable for fixed-income homeowners, a growing demographic. Homeowners who downsize and rent meet an expensive and crowded market, while homeowners who stay do not free up larger houses for families.
There are no easy solutions because so many essential infrastructure projects, such as upgrading Hutchinson’s crumbling water main and sewer systems, are now at the tipping point, when deferred maintenance is no longer possible.
Increasing the tax base is the only way out of the property tax spiral, given the state legislature’s revenue imbalance caused by the Brownback tax failure — the new Evergy plant in So. Hutchinson, as planned, is expected to bring hundreds of well-paying jobs and supporting employment in support sectors.
We must be cautious, however. The Evergy plant received a ten-year property tax abatement but only reached its employment goals for a limited time. We must ensure that companies that ride on the backs of working-class taxpayers hold up their end of the bargain.
Next week, I will pay my property tax bill, a disheartening task during the holidays. I wonder how much more each month I must set aside for taxes and the spiraling cost of property insurance and utility bills.
Bill / December 1, 2024
One would assume county administrators would seek to lower operating costs to allow a lowering of the mill levy.
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Dixie Swisher / December 1, 2024
Same in McPherson County!
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Bart Kooiman / December 1, 2024
Good article. Bad for Hutch. I’d only add… the irony of calling out Gov. Brownback without any mention (good or bad) of our current 2 term governor. Side note: to be fair, I still complain about President Carter’s high interest and gas. Lastly, I wonder if Hutch has an appetite for a $110M bond in April even with a low mill rate.
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Michael / December 2, 2024
Property taxes the biggest rip-off thereever. Was it is because of our government has so corrupt. We should not have to pay taxes on things. We own that we had paid taxes for for buying it taxes for working to get the money to buy it.
Hink, it’s about time for a tea party.
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