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WICHITA, Kan. — Senate President and candidate for governor Ty Masterson today laid out the Kansas Homeowners Bill of Rights, his plan to end the state's property tax crisis, building on the relief he has already delivered and the reforms only a governor can drive.
"Kansans are being taxed out of homes they already own, and it's hitting our seniors and young families the hardest,” Masterson said. “I've fought for years to cut property taxes and we've taken real steps toward relief, but the Democrats and local governments that feed off your money have blocked every real fix. That's why I'm running for governor: to give Kansas homeowners a Bill of Rights that caps the rapid increases, reins in government spending, and puts the brakes on the runaway train that's pricing Kansans out of their homes. Kansans have waited long enough. Making Kansas affordable again starts with delivering property tax relief.”
What Masterson has already delivered
- Passed Truth in Taxation, forcing local governments to hold a public, recorded vote before they pass a budget that relies on higher property taxes from rising assessments.
- Raised the homestead exemption that shields more of your home's value from the statewide school property tax.
- Repealed the state's 1.5-mill levy, meaning property taxes are now collected exclusively for schools and other local governments.
- Protected homeowners who win an appeal by requiring counties to justify any significant future increase with an independent appraisal.
- Delivered SB 418, which is one of the most comprehensive red tape reductions and cost savings in the country, with a fiscal note of zero.
The Kansas Homeowners Bill of Rights
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Give the power to the people: Allow Kansans to vote on a constitutional amendment empowering the people's elected representatives to cap runaway increases and provide targeted relief for fixed income seniors.
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Cap increases and help our seniors: Skyrocketing appraisals and annual reassessments cause many Kansans' property tax bills to rise every year, even if the mill levy remains flat. Once the amendment is adopted, Masterson will immediately work to pass and sign a bill to stop unreasonable increases with a hard cap, rollback inflated valuations, and provide a mechanism to freeze or reduce property taxes for fixed income seniors.
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Cap spending: To hold local governments accountable, Masterson's plan caps the growth of property tax collections. To exceed the cap or raise the mill levy beyond the limit would require the consent of the people, forcing them to make their case in the open.
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Make homes more affordable for young people: reduce the regulatory cost of housing, along with property tax, so more young Kansans can afford a home.
These reforms stand in stark contrast to the three Democrats running for governor, who have spent years defending the very system crushing Kansas homeowners.
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