State lawmakers met with Riley County officials Thursday to discuss some of the county’s priorities ahead of the next legislative session.
Riley County officials favor some kind of legislation that gives counties authority to force landowners to clean up nuisance properties. County Counselor Clancy Holeman presented Senate Bill 162, a mirror of a Sedgwick County bill for assessing liens on properties that a court has determined to be in need of cleanup.
51st District State Representative Kenny Titus gave some feedback on the discussion.
66th District State Representative Syndey Carlin expressed a common sentiment on the laws regarding these properties:
Another of the concerns is Senate Concurrent Resolution 1611, which would put a 4% yearly cap on property valuations. The county does not support this. Riley County Appraiser Anna Burson explains the basic issue with a valuation cap.
In an email to KMAN, Burson further explains that over time if values are capped at 4% valuation per year, homes going up by 4% based on the market will be valued at full market and paying their share of taxes based on full market.
“While another neighborhood with the market going up 15% but being capped at 4% will essentially be undervalued by 11% and not paying taxes based on their full market value but instead below market. Over time this can lead to inequity in the valuation. It doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with the lower valued homes in relation to the higher valued homes but everything to do with the market demands in the different market areas,” she said.
Burson, in a letter to commissioners in September wrote she believes SCR 1611 appears to be unconstitutional. Riley County does not support the legislation.
The next legislative session begins in Topeka on January 8.
