Some Jackson County homeowners await property appeals starting in 2023

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – Pat Simon spends a lot of time on the computer in his home in Independence, Missouri.

Simon reads emails from the Jackson County Board of Equalization while waiting for an appointment to review the property appraisal on his home.

Last year, the county’s assessment department set the value of Simon’s property at $249,300, down from $151,000 in 2021. Simon appealed the assessment in June 2023, hoping the county would reduce the home’s value and save him money on property taxes.

Simon rejected an offer to set the value of the split-level home at $200,000 during an informal hearing.

Simon’s next step is to meet with the county’s Board of Equalization to review the appeal.

Simon said the board canceled several meetings and claimed Simon missed a meeting.

He denies having missed a meeting.

“I don’t know where to turn, and I don’t know how many other taxpayers feel the same way,” Simon said.

Charlie Keegan

Simon spoke with a supervisor on the Board of Equalization on Tuesday. He said the supervisor told him the board would schedule a hearing for Simon after a new member was added to the board this week.

County Representative Manny Abarca said turnover within the panel contributed in part to the long wait times for people filing appeals.

“The turnover of the chairman, the turnover of the lawyer. They were also not functional,” said Abarca.

The number of objections in 2023 was also higher than ever before: more than 50,000 property owners challenged the district’s assessment.

While waiting for a resolution, Simon had to pay his property taxes based on the $249,300 assessment. He hopes to receive a refund if the Board of Equalization reduces the value of his home during a hearing.

“I’m a normal guy. I don’t have a lot of money. I’m 70 years old and I still work every day,” Simon said. “I’m not sitting here fat and happy with extra money to give to the state.”

The Missouri Attorney General has sued Jackson County officials, accusing them of violating state law during the 2023 assessment process.

The trial began on June 27 but is adjourned until July 8.

Abarca introduced a proposal Monday to have the county’s tax assessor elected by voters rather than appointed by the county board. Lawmakers referred the proposal to a committee for later consideration.

In April, assessor Gail McCann Beatty told Abarca that there are advantages and disadvantages to having an elected assessor, noting that she has more than 30 years of experience in the field, while an elected candidate may not have those qualifications.

“I have no opinion on that. If the legislature and the state decide they want to do that, then that’s what will happen,” McCann Beatty concluded at the time.