The vast majority of conservative, moderate, and liberal voters want a say on property tax increases and a limit on the increase in taxable assessed values, yet asked whether they support each, responses from gubernatorial candidates or their campaigns are “Yes,” “No,” and no reply.
The Sentinel recently asked nine gubernatorial candidates from both parties their positions on two “yes-no” property tax questions. The Sentinel emailed the questions and followed up with a phone call to make sure the campaigns were aware they had been sent. Only five candidates — four Republicans and one Democrat responded. The initial response from the phone number associated with the Holscher campaign was vulgar and no reply from the emails sent to the campaign or Holscher’s Senate email. The campaign has since said it published a phone number that it no longer has and the official response is “no” to both questions.
A June public opinion poll, commissioned by The Sentinel’s parent company, Kansas Policy Institute, shows 78% of Kansans say local taxing authorities should not be allowed to increase the property taxes they collect by a fixed limit (like 3%, 4%, or 5%) without some form of voter input like a direct vote or a protest petition. The Sentinel asked: “If elected, would you sign a bill that allows voters to stop property tax collections from exceeding the lesser of inflation or 3%? Yes or no?”
Four Republicans, Senate President Ty Masterson, businessman Phillip Sarnecki, Charlotte O’Hara, and Secretary of State Scott Schwab, responded with “yes.” Democrats Ethan Corson and Curt Skoog did not respond, and Cindy Holschers campaign sent their official response after our story was published.
On Monday, July 13, 2026, Holscher’s spokesman said no one who works for the campaign sent that text. Spokesman TJ Helmstetter said they are “investigating” the issue.
The average residential valuation jumped 40% over the last four years, which is likely why 76% of voters want a constitutional amendment to limit annual increases in the taxable assessed value of their property, and of those supporters, 65% want a fixed-rate limit of 3%, 4%, or 5%.
The Sentinel asked: “Should legislators in your party vote to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot for a fixed-rate annual limit on taxable assessed values? Yes or no?”
Republicans Masterson, O’Hara, and Sarnecki said “yes,” and Schwab said “no.”
Democrat State Senator Cindy Holscher’s campaign has since clarified that her answer is “no” to both questions.
Democrats Ethan Corson and Curt Skoog did not respond, and neither did Republican candidates Stacy Rogers and Vicki Schmidt.
Skoog’s campaign said on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, that it would respond, but it did not. Schmidt’s campaign likewise said on Monday, July 6, that it would respond but also failed to do so.
Property tax reform failed this legislative session (again)
Attempts to put just such a Constitutional amendment on the ballot died in the Kansas House this session despite passing the Kansas Senate overwhelmingly.
“What was probably the last attempt to put an assessment limit on the ballot this year to protect taxpayers from exorbitant, unaffordable valuation hikes failed …, with 33 Democrats and 20 Republicans voting against it,” KPI CEO Dave Trabert wrote at the time. “Those voting “No” did so for one of two reasons: they didn’t have enough time to understand the changes, or they sided with local government over taxpayers. They also effectively told taxpayers that they don’t deserve to vote on the proposed constitutional amendment.”
Senate Substitute for House Bill 2745 would have allowed voters to sign a protest petition to stop large property tax increases, but it was vetoed by Governor Laura Kelly.
In a joint statement, Kansas Speaker of the House Dan Hawkins and House Majority Leader Chris Croft blasted the veto.
“House Republicans have made property tax relief a top priority for over two years. And for two years, while claiming they want to address affordability and property tax relief, the Governor and her allies have done nothing but stand in the way of solutions. It seems they would rather campaign on the problem than solve it,” Hawkins said. “Kansans didn’t send us to Topeka to play political games; they sent us here to deliver results. Kansas families are being crushed by rising property taxes. Across the state, they are being forced into tightening their budgets and making smarter, more fiscally responsible choices. Local government should be doing the same. This conversation is not over, and we will continue to fight to put Kansans who are suffering under out-of-control property taxes back in the driver’s seat.”
(Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect the campaign’s response to the questions and clarify the official response of the campaign was not “F@#$ You.”)
