Author: Dave Trabert
Less than 50% of Republicans and Democrats cast most of their votes for property tax relief
Every Kansas legislator entered the 2026 session professing strong support for property tax relief, but voting records tell a different…
Constitutional assessment limit failed because 33 Democrats and 20 Republicans voted “No”
What was probably the last attempt to put an assessment limit on the ballot this year to protect taxpayers from…
Mill rate limit allows voters to stop excessive property tax increases, unless Gov. Kelly sides with government and vetoes it
On the last day of the regular session, the Kansas Legislature passed HB 2745, a mill rate limit that allows…
Kansas ranks #48 in five-year business survival rate
A study released today by Franchise Opportunities shows that the business survival rate in Kansas is only 46.8% for businesses formed…
Which assessment limit is best for taxpayers?
The Kansas House and Senate remain divided over the structure of a constitutional amendment on an assessment limit for property…
Senate Tax Committee reinstates revenue-neutral, tightens mill rate limit
The Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee amended HB 2745 today, reinstating revenue-neutral and giving voters a chance to veto property…
Revenue-Neutral transparency helps suppress property tax increases
The goal of the Kansas Truth in Taxation revenue-neutral law passed in 2021 was to make local officials think twice…
House Tax Committee sides with government over taxpayers: HB 2745 eliminates revenue-neutral and bonuses governments for tax increases of at least 5%
Cities, counties, and school districts lobbied hard over the last three years to eliminate revenue-neutral measures and have the Legislature…
Replacing property tax with sales tax is a complex, multi-year task
There’s been a lot of buzz on social media lately about replacing the Kansas property tax with extra sales tax…
School funding almost $19,000 per student, cash reserves hit $1.33 billion, enrollment declines, and employment increases
Data from the Kansas Department of Education shows school funding for the 2024-25 school year set another record at $8.65…
KSDE hides from TV cameras to avoid being confronted on reducing proficiency standards
It’s not uncommon for education administrators to make easily debunked claims about student achievement or school finance from the safety…
Kansas residents prefer Kansas City Chiefs and Royals to stay at Truman Sports Complex
Residents of Overland Park and Leawood, the Sunflower State epicenter of a possible taxpayer-funded Kansas City Royals stadium, prefer that…
Big pay hikes for school administrators in 2025, while outcomes remain low
The 2025 school year was déjà vu all over again – nice pay increases for many administrators and persistently low…
Lower proficiency standards lead to phony student achievement gains
In the fable of the Emperor’s New Clothes, two con men convinced the Emperor they had woven a magnificent set…
USD 229 Superintendent Dr. Gillian Chapman deceives parents on achievement and funding
Blue Valley Superintendent Dr. Gillian Chapman wrote to parents last week, stating that the community “deserves honest, informed conversations about…
Overland Park wants 6% property tax hike to fund lavish spending increase
Overland Park’s 2026 proposed budget says it contains a 6.6% spending increase, but the real change is much higher and…
Leavenworth County property tax discussion is a good reminder that elected officials must be leaders
Did you ever have to settle squabbles coming from the back seat of the car, with kids saying ‘she’s looking…
KSDE denies lowering standards despite implausible proficiency gains
Kansas Department of Education (KSDE) staff put on a master class of political spin and deception at yesterday’s meeting of…
KSDE ignores fundamental questions about the 2025 state assessment test
It’s a simple question: Will the new state assessment measure mastery of reading and math skills? Yet Kansas Education Commissioner…
Shawnee Mission shortchanges students on services in the name of equity
The Shawnee Mission East High School student newspaper, Harbinger, reports that the school board “has formed a fairness-fighting task force:…
Kansas (sort of) promises not to violate Title VI Civil Rights Act
At its April board meeting, the Kansas State Board of Education couldn’t decide how to react to the U.S. Department…
KSDE is strangely quiet on conflicting claims about students below grade level
State Commissioner of Education Randy Watson was quoted last week by the Kansas Reflector, saying, “A lot of research says…
Promise Scholarship veto shows Laura Kelly is the government governor, not the education governor
Last week, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly vetoed an expansion of the Kansas Promise Scholarship program, a long-established program enjoying bipartisan…
How politics derailed property tax relief in the 2025 Legislature
Republicans and Democrats began the 2025 legislative session with much swagger about passing meaningful property tax reform. However, they adjourned…