Three initial “No” votes on SCR 1610 changed to “Yes” for a revised proposal in SCR 1611 limiting increases in property valuations to 4% annually.
The final vote on SCR 1611 was 28-11 with one member absent.
Last week, the Senate stood at 26-14 on the issue, one shy of the necessary 2/3 required to approve a constitutional amendment limiting increases in property valuations to present to voters. That measure limited increases to 3% yearly.
Three Republican senators; Brenda Dietrich of Topeka, Michael Fagg of El Dorado, and Carolyn McGinn of Sedgwick voted “Yes” after initially opposing the amendment. We asked each senator for a comment, but none responded.
Sen. Jeff Pittman from Leavenworth County was the lone Democrat voting in favor. Sen. David Haley of Kansas City, a “Yes” vote initially, was absent for the final tally.
Sen. Carny Tyson of Parker saluted her GOP colleagues:
“With this bill, the Senate has put the percentages in favor of the taxpayers. Now, we’ll see where it goes from here”
Along with the “Truth in Taxation” law passed in 2021, Kansas lawmakers appear to be making progress in reining in contentious property tax increases.
SCR 1611 now goes to the House for consideration, but it’s not known when that could occur. If approved, the amendment will be on the ballot in November, 2024.
