Notes from Commissioner Howell:
Sticker Shock on Your Valuation Notice? Let's Talk About It.
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I get it. This year, the number of homes that had a significant spike in appraised value was alarming. If you opened your valuation notice and felt a knot in your stomach, you weren't alone, and your concern is completely understandable. I want to take a few minutes to explain how this actually works because the picture is more complicated than it first appears, and in some ways, more reassuring.
Your property tax bill is made up of levies from multiple taxing jurisdictions: Sedgwick County, your school district, the city and potentially others. Each taxing entity determines what it costs to operate for the year ahead and then figures your share of the bill, based on your property's value. If every property value in a jurisdiction rises by the same percentage, no one's relative share changes. What drives your local tax bill is whether a governing body passed a larger budget — NOT whether your home went up in value.
Here is something most people don't know: Sedgwick County Commissioners don't adopt a mill levy. We simply adopt a budget — a total dollar amount needed to run county government. The mill levy rate is then calculated by the County Clerk, who divides the certified budget by the final assessed valuation, once all property appeals are complete. The mill levy is a mathematical outcome of that process - NOT a political decision commissioners directly make.
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There is, however, one portion of your bill I want to explain. The State of Kansas levies a fixed 20.0 mill rate on all real property to fund schools. That rate does not change based on local budgets. Residential property owners receive a $75,000 appraised value exemption — worth about $172.50 in savings — but beyond that, the full assessed value is always fully subject to the state rate. If your property's value increased substantially this year, you will likely see a proportional increase in that portion of your tax bill. Local officials have zero control over that part of your bill.
For the local portions — county, city, fire district, cemetery, governing bodies that pass conservative or flat budgets can meaningfully limit the impact on taxpayers, even in a year of rising values. That is a commitment I take seriously.
Finally, if you believe your appraised value is inaccurate, I encourage you to appeal. The deadline to request an appeal is TOMORROW, March 31, 2026. Instructions are printed on the back of your valuation notice. Please don't ignore that option if something doesn't look right.
| | 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. | | Sedgwick County is answering YOUR questions about the Appraiser's Office. On Facebook, Corey asked - Are properties actually visually assessed in most areas or just have a blanket value applied to them? Watch the video to find out! | | Upcoming events with Commissioner Howell: | | |
Come and go informal discussion on Sedgwick County issues with Commissioner Howell. Coffee & soda provided.
- Monday, April 13, 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, April 21, 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, April 24, 7-9 a.m.
- Calvary Baptist Church, Gymnasium. Enter at the glass doors on east side at 1636 E. Patriot, Derby 67037
| | Data Center Public Meeting on March 31 | | |
The Metropolitan Area Planning Department (MAPD) will host a public meeting on data centers Tuesday, March 31, at the K-State Research and Extension–Sedgwick County. Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. for citizens to view informational displays, and a presentation on zoning protocols will begin at 6 p.m.
Sedgwick County Commissioners previously held a Data Center Listening Town Hall on March 12 and a Data Center Roundtable on March 25. They also passed an interim development control resolution to pause any potential applications on data centers until June 11, 2026, to allow for the review and creation of zoning regulations.
| | Ban on open burning begins April 1 | | |
Sedgwick County Fire District 1 (SCFD1) is reminding residents that a burn ban imposed by the State of Kansas will be in effect for Sedgwick County during the month of April. While burns are useful for preventing the risk of wildfires and eliminating weeds, the burn ban is in place to lessen the strain on the air for infants, older adults and high-risk individuals.
New open burn permits will not be issued during the month of April, and no current permit holders will be allowed to conduct open burns after March 31, 2026. Open burns can resume May 1 weather permitting.
The ban includes all open burning of any waste, including vegetation and wood waste, structures or other material on any premises. Exceptions to the open burn ban include pasture, crop, range and wildlife or watershed management. The allowed burning operations will require a valid permit from SCFD1. Burn permits may be requested online at http://www.sedgwickcounty.org/fire or by calling the Sedgwick County Fire Marshall at 316-660-3473.
The April burn ban does not restrict the use of barbecue grills, smokers or backyard fire pits in Sedgwick County. Residents are encouraged to check with their local municipalities about possible stricter burn regulations.
For more information, visit April Burn Ban | Sedgwick County, Kansas.
| | Help available to apply for Homestead Refund | | |
Before filing your tax return this year, find out if you qualify for a Homestead Refund designed for veterans, older adults, low-income and disabled residents. Stop by the Sedgwick County Clerk's Office to get free help determining your eligibility and filling out the needed form by April 15.
The Homestead Refund is a rebate program for the property taxes billed to homeowners prior to Jan. 1, 2025. The refund is based on a portion of the property tax paid on a Kansas resident's homestead. If you own your home, the refund is a percentage of your general property tax. Visit Homestead Refunds | Sedgwick County, Kansas to learn more.
| | Register of Deeds opens new satellite office | | |
The Sedgwick County Register of Deeds will begin offering services, including passport appointments, at a new Haysville satellite location.
Beginning Monday, March 16, Sedgwick County citizens can visit Haysville City Hall, 200 W. Grand Ave., to complete all services offered by the Register of Deeds. Passport services will be available five days a week by appointment only. The office will operate with existing Register of Deeds personnel at no additional cost to Sedgwick County or taxpayers.
The Register of Deeds satellite location will be open during the following hours:
- Office hours: Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
- Passport appointments: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
For more information of services offered, visit Sedgwick County | Register of Deeds.
| | Sedgwick County names new leader of Human Services Division | | |
Congratulations to Anna Meyerhoff-Cole (pictured above on the far left and far right), who was named director of Sedgwick County's Human Services Division, supervising COMCARE, the Health Department and Department of Aging and Disabilities. She replaces Tim Kaufman, who retired at the end of 2025.
Anna has served Sedgwick County since 2011 in a variety of leadership and operational roles, including:
- Deputy Chief Human Resources Officer
- Director of Central Services
- Forensic Administrator for the Regional Forensic Science Center
- Health Department’s Public Health Emergency Preparedness team
- Budget Analyst for the Division of Finance
- Election Office support during the 2020 Presidential Election
Sedgwick County is lucky to have such a versatile and knowledgeable employee.
| | Sheriff welcomes 16 new detention deputies | | |
On March 19, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office celebrated the graduation of 16 new detention deputies, pictured below with their mentor on the far left. They successfully completed 10 weeks of intensive training that included interpersonal communication, policies and procedures, legal issues, computer systems, and defensive tactics. The newly sworn deputies will now move into field training, working alongside experienced staff in the detention facility.
Congratulations to these dedicated individuals on this important milestone and their commitment to public service!
| | SCFD awards Firefighter of the Year and more! | | |
Fire District 1 held an awards ceremony March 7 to recognize several employees for superior work in 2025. Division Chief Clint Reed took top honors as 2025 Firefighter of the Year. Congratulations to him and others honored for their bravery and dedication to the job:
Unit Citations:
- Capt. Boone and Firefighter Kornfeld - Saved a house fire victim
- Lt. Kepley and Firefighter Ensz - Saved a house fire victim
Commendations:
- Lt. Brenneman, Firefighter Best, Firefighter Kornfeld, Captain Duerksen and Firefighter Maus - Located a missing adult in serious condition
- Lt. Nance and Firefighter Flessner - Fire Training program improvements
- Capt. Faissal - Fire Prevention programs
Certificates of Appreciation:
- Lt. Rusty Vollentine - Fire Investigations
- Robin Fertner of Strategic Communications - Graphic design/videos for public education
SCFD Retirees:
- Lt. Bob Ratzlaff, Capt. Kelby Harrison and Firefighter James Tiffany
| | Sedgwick County firefighters are also excited to introduce their new mascot - Blaze the Bulldog! Blaze will help teach kids about fire safety and what to do in case of an emergency. Watch the video to see his public debut! | | COMCARE Community Crisis earns accreditation | | The Sedgwick County Community Crisis Center is now an officially accredited Crisis Helpline and Chat/Text Program. This required months of planning, implementation of 888 chat and texting, added staff and expansion of suicide intervention training. The accreditation comes from the International Council for Helplines and celebrates the Sedgwick County COMCARE 988 line as an important service for residents who are experiencing mental health issues. | | 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.
| | Aging and Disabilities Information and Assistance Line | | |
The Sedgwick County Department of Aging and Disabilities (SCDOAD) helps individuals navigate the complex system of services available to older adults, family caregivers and individuals with disabilities. SCDOAD’s friendly staff is available to explain options and connect individuals with available community resources and programs. SCDOAD has a variety of programs and supportive services that support older adults, including in-home services, case management and minor home repair. The Department also works with partner organizations that offer other services, such as home delivered and congregate meals, legal services and much more. These programs and services, among others are available to residents of Sedgwick County.
For more information, contact the Information and Assistance Resource Line at 1-800-367-7298 or 316-660-5120.
| | Out and About with Commissioners | | Sedgwick County's first Data Center Listening Town Hall on March 12 drew a large crowd - about 550 citizens, with nearly 60 of them voicing their questions and concerns to commisioners. | | Sedgwick County Commissioners and EMS staff enjoyed the luck of the Irish with beautiful weather and a big crowd at this year's Delano Paddy Day Parade - one day before bitter cold weather set in. | | Connect with Sedgwick County | | | | |
