Notes from Commissioner Howell:
SCR1616: Well-Intended, Constitutionally Flawed
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Kansas homeowners are rightly frustrated by sharp increases and spikes in property appraisals, and the legislature’s desire to address that concern is understandable. Senate Concurrent Resolution 1616 (SCR1616), currently under debate, attempts to do just that by capping annual assessed value growth at 3 percent. If passed, it would appear on the August 2026 ballot. On paper, the proposal sounds appealing. In practice, it raises serious constitutional and practical concerns.
SCR1616 does not change how Fair Market Value (FMV) is determined. Properties would still be appraised uniformly and equally. However, once a property value increase reaches the 3 percent cap in any one year, the assessed value would be artificially reduced to capped at 3percent. Over time, this causes a growing divergence between FMV and Assessed Value (AV). The Kansas Constitution is clear: assessment rates must be applied uniformly and equally within each property classification. When each property effectively ends up with its own assessment rate, the constitutional requirements of “uniform and equal” lose their meaning.
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Beyond the constitutional issue, real data reveals an unintended consequence. Analysis of Sedgwick County residential property data shows that SCR1616 would increase taxes for many homeowners whose property values do not increase at the higher rates. Properties that do not hit the cap must shoulder a larger share of the tax levy. In fact, of nearly 162,000 residential properties in Sedgwick County, more than 85,000 residential properties would have an increase in their tax levy because SCR1616 effectively shifts the tax burden from homes that are more desirable to those that are less desirable. A policy intended to provide relief would, for many, does the opposite (increase taxes).
I am a staunch supporter of meaningful property tax reform, but SCR1616 is not the best solution. Better options exist. One approach would be an automatic secondary review for any appraisal that falls outside three standard deviations of the normal annual growth curve—ensuring spikes caused by error are caught early. Another is establishing a taxpayer advocate to assist homeowners through the appeals process. A third is a qualified, independent, local Hearing Officer Panel (HOP) with binding authority to correct overvaluations.
These are just three of many ideas that address the real problem: appraisal accuracy. Only when valuations are accurate can the tax levy be divided fairly and equitably among property owners. That should be the goal of reform.
| | The views expressed by Commissioner Jim Howell in this newsletter do not necessarily represent the governing body of the Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners or Sedgwick County Government. | | Other upcoming events with Commissioner Howell: | | |
Come and go informal discussion on Sedgwick County issues with Commissioner Howell. Coffee & soda provided.
- Monday, Feb. 9, 4-5:30 p.m.
- Range 54, 5725 E. Kellogg Dr., Wichita, 67218
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Come and go informal discussion on Sedgwick County issues with Commissioner Howell. Coffee & soda provided.
- Tuesday, Feb. 17, 7-9 a.m.
- The Grill, 222 N. 2nd Ave.,
Mulvane, 67110
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Come and go informal discussion on Sedgwick County issues with Commissioner Howell. Coffee provided.
- Friday, Feb. 27, 7-9 a.m.
- Calvary Baptist Church, Gymnasium. Enter at the glass doors on east side at 1636 E. Patriot, Derby 67037
| | Commissioners pass the gavel to new leaders | | At their Jan. 14 meeting, Sedgwick County Commissioners voted on new leadership for 2026. The board chose District 2 Commissioner Jeff Blubaugh to be the new Chair and District 3 Commissioner Stephanie Wise as Chair Pro Tem. Congratulations to both commissioners! | | Second Light earns 2025 Chairman's Award | | Commissioner Ryan Baty presented the 2025 Chairman’s Award to the nonprofit Second Light Shelter + Services, a community-driven initiative designed to provide services and support for individuals experiencing homelessness or those who are at risk of becoming homeless. More than a dozen partners will provide services, such as mental and physical health, substance use resources and housing navigation. Located at 1025 N. Main, Second Light is scheduled to open in spring 2026 and is currently available during the winter months to provide emergency shelter options. Second Light works toward the goal of reaching functional zero homelessness - when the number of people entering homelessness is never more than the community’s ability to house them quickly. | | New County Appraiser is chosen | | |
Sedgwick County Commissioners enthusiastically appointed Deanna Aspedon as the new County Appraiser because of her focus on customer service. Aspedon has been employed by the Appraiser’s Office for 27 years, most recently serving as Residential Project Leader. She succeeds Mark Clark, who served as County Appraiser from Feb. 2020 to June 2025. Deputy Chief Financial Officer Brent Shelton served as Interim County Appraiser during a national search for Clark’s replacement.
Aspedon is a Kansas Registered Mass Appraiser and holds an Assessment Administration Specialist designation from the International Association of Assessing Officers.
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Firefighters win Battle of the Badges | For the seventh year in a row, local firefighters took home the trophy in the American Red Cross Battle of the Badges. It was a close competition! From Dec. 8-31, Wichita and Sedgwick County firefighters won 257 votes from blood donors. EMS earned 250 votes, and 198 favored law enforcement. Of course, our community is the REAL winner, benefitting from these lifesaving donations! | | Warning signs of hypothermia | Spending time outdoors in the extreme cold can lead to hypothermia if you don't take precautions. Watch this video as Sedgwick County EMS demonstrates the warning signs of hypothermia and how to respond. | | Sedgwick County is answering YOUR questions about the Tag Offices. On Facebook, Gerald asked - How much do the state and county each contribute in tag office funding? Watch the video to find out! | | Sedgwick County welcomes Flag Sojourn 250 | | Sheriff Jeff Easter hosted the Kansas stop of the National Flag Foundation’s Flag Sojourn 250 at the flagpole of the Sedgwick County Historic Courthouse. Honor Guard members raised the flag while attendees recited the Pledge of Allegiance and observed a moment of silence. The flag was then lowered and sent on to the next location. | | Flag Sojourn 250 is part of a nationwide celebration marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. With support from the National Sheriffs’ Association, participants are carrying the flag to every U.S. state, territory and military cemetery. The journey will end in Washington, D.C., in July 2026, where organizers will raise the flag in a national tribute to unity and the American spirit. Learn more about Flag Sojourn 250 at National Flag Foundation. | | COMCARE's Mobile Response/ICT units are ready to help | | When someone in Sedgwick County needs help with a mental crisis, COMCARE is ready to respond 24/7. Watch this video to find out how the Mobile Response and Integrated Care Teams (ICT) work. If you're in distress, call COMCARE at 316-660-7500 or the 9-8-8 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. | | Deputy CFO Brent Shelton wins WBJ award | | The Wichita Business Journal recently honored Sedgwick County Deputy CFO Brent Shelton with its 2026 CFO Award. It is well-deserved because not only does Shelton oversee the county's budget team, he also manages investments and liquidity, leads economic development initiatives and just finished his term as Interim County Appraiser. Congratulations! | | One month remains for 2026 Election Sticker Contests | | Would you like to see your child's artwork worn by thousands of people? Then they should submit a design for the next “I Voted” sticker contest, open to all Sedgwick County students grades 6-12. Another contest this year lets kids in grades K-5 create a “Future Voter” sticker. Visit 2026 "Future Voter" and "I Voted" Sticker Design Contest | Sedgwick County, Kansas for contest rules and entry forms. Submit design entries by Feb. 27, 2026! | | Please don't feed animals at the park | | |
Even though the squirrels, ducks and geese at Lake Afton and the Sedgwick County Park are very cute, please don't share your snacks with them! Parks Superintendent John Myers says giving human food to a wild animal can:
- Lead to malnutrition or death because of an unhealthy diet.
- Make them dependent on people for food.
- Cause them to become aggressive because they no longer fear humans.
| | Out and About with Commissioners | | The Intrust Bank Arena Founding Partner’s Lunch showcased the strategies used to welcome performers to our community and produce the best audience experience. | | Commissioners met with members of the agricultural community at the 2026 Annual Sedgwick County Farm Bureau Agricultural Association Legislative Luncheon to learn what the top priorities are to be addressed in Topeka in the coming months. | | Connect with Sedgwick County | | | | |
