Note from Commissioner Meitzner: | | |
Property valuation notices will be arriving in mailboxes soon, and I want to take a moment to provide some context.
According to our new County Appraiser Deanna Aspedon, residential property values are increasing primarily because homes across Sedgwick County have continued to sell at strong prices. While the real estate market has cooled slightly, sale prices have not declined much. In 2025, nearly 85% of homes sold — about 4,200 properties — sold for more than the County’s previous appraised value. As a result, the median home value is expected to increase 9.3% this year.
I understand valuation increases can be concerning. It’s important to remember:
- The Appraiser’s Office determines fair market value — it does not set tax rates.
- Valuations alone do not automatically increase your property taxes.
- Tax rates are set by local taxing jurisdictions during the annual budget process.
Over the past three years, Sedgwick County has avoided taking the full amount of assessed valuation growth available. As a result, our mill levy is now the lowest it has been in nearly three decades. I remain committed to responsible budgeting and continue to encourage the more than 170 other taxing jurisdictions in Sedgwick County to follow suit - only take what is truly necessary and reduce their mill levies accordingly.
If you disagree with your property valuation, I encourage you to appeal. You have two options:
- File an appeal within 30 days of receiving your notice by following the instructions on the back of the form. A meeting will be scheduled where the Appraiser’s Office will explain how the value was determined, and you may present information supporting a different value. A decision will be mailed by May 20.
- Pay under protest when 2026 property taxes are due — either Dec. 20, 2026, or May 10, 2027. A protest form from the Sedgwick County Treasurer’s Office must be submitted with your payment to schedule a meeting.
For more information about property valuations and the appeals process, please visit the Sedgwick County Appraiser’s Office website at www.sedgwickcounty.org/.
As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or concerns.
| | The views expressed by Commissioner Pete Meitzner in this newsletter do not necessarily represent the governing body of the Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners or Sedgwick County Government. | | Voting options for 2026 Wichita Special Election | | |
The 2026 Wichita Special Election is Tuesday, March 3, but early in-person voting is already underway for City of Wichita residents who are eligible to cast a ballot. Voters can go to the Sedgwick County Election Office at 510 N. Main, Suite 101, on weekdays through Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Monday, March 2, from 8 a.m.-noon.
Satellite in-person voting is available at nine locations across Wichita on Thursday, Feb. 26, and Friday, Feb. 27, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Saturday, Feb. 28, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. A 10th location with similar hours will open Friday, Feb. 27. Find a full list of sites at Early In-Person Voting Locations.
Voters who prefer to cast a ballot on Election Day - Tuesday, March 3 - must go to their assigned polling place between 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Visit Kansas Secretary of State | VoterView to check your polling place and ballot.
Find more election information at Election Office | Sedgwick County, Kansas.
| | Treasurer opens new satellite tag office in East Wichita | | |
The Sedgwick County Treasurer’s Office is adding an additional satellite tag location to East Wichita.
Sedgwick County residents can now schedule appointments for all services at BMW of Wichita at the Walser Auto Campus, 11000 East 13th St. North. The partnership between the Treasurer’s Office and the dealership comes at no cost to the County or taxpayers.
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In addition to the Douglas Tag Office at 2525 West Douglas Ave., Sedgwick County residents can complete their tag business at seven additional satellite locations:
- Haysville City Hall – 200 W. Grand Ave.
- Kansas Driver Licensing in Derby – 620 N. Rock Rd., Ste. 300.
- Mel Hambelton Ford – 11771 W. Kellogg Dr.
- Park City City Hall – 1941 E. 61st St. N.
- Rusty Eck Ford in Wichita – 7310 E. Kellogg Dr.
- Sedgwick County Treasurer’s Office at the Ruffin Building – 100 N. Broadway
- Wichita West Kansas Driver Licensing – 610 S. Tyler Rd.
Sedgwick County residents can complete their transactions in person, online, by mail or by using the drop box at the Douglas Tag Office. A full list of required documents and instructions about how to make an appointment are available online at https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/tag-office/.
| | Free classes prepare families for severe weather | | Now is the time to start preparing for severe weather season, when the risk of strong storms in Kansas typically increases from March to May. Watch this video to learn about FREE safety classes offered by Sedgwick County Emergency Management in 13 cities through March 26. Whether you are new to Kansas or grew up here, the classes offer new information each year to help your family stay safe, in case of flooding, lightning, tornadoes or hail. No need to register - just show up ready to learn! | | First graduate of Veterans Treatment Court | | Sedgwick County and the 18th Judicial District celebrated its first graduation ceremony from Veterans Treatment Court. Khoa "Aaron" completed the program designed to serve offenders with prior military service and a history of substance use disorders, mental illness and/or acquired brain injury. The court emphasizes accountability, treatment and rehabilitation while honoring the unique experiences of veterans. | The Sedgwick County Veterans Treatment Court operates through a collaborative partnership among the Sedgwick County District Court of Kansas, Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office, Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, Office of the Public Defender, Sedgwick County Department of Correction and Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center. | | Behind the scenes of recycling in Sedgwick County | | Did you know that 95% of all curbside recycling in Sedgwick County ends up at one processing plant in Hutchinson? It's true! This video will show you what happens to those materials from start to finish - how recyclables are sorted with the help of robots, what can and cannot be processed and where the recycling bales go to be repurposed. If you have ever wondered if your recycling efforts are in vain, watch this video and learn the truth behind the most common myths. | | Sedgwick County employees earn multiple awards | | |
Congratulations to Anna Meyerhoff-Cole, who won the Wichita Business Journal's 2026 HR Professionals award for her outstanding work in the field of Human Resources. She and other standout leaders in the community attended a luncheon where many proud colleagues and commissioners cheered her on!
The Sedgwick County Finance Department (pictured below) also earned several honors from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). The Budget Department was awarded the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the budget beginning Jan. 2026, and the accounting department earned the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and the 2023 Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting.
| | Register now for Mental Health First Aid class | | Sedgwick County COMCARE is offering another FREE Adult Mental Health First Aid class next month on Friday, March 27, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Participants will learn how to identify and address potential mental health concerns or substance use challenges in a safe and responsible way. The Department of Corrections will host this class at its Adult Residential Program site, 622 E. Central Ave., in the multipurpose room. Email Allison.farres@sedgwick.gov to sign up! | | EMS teaches community CPR classes | | |
While American Heart Month in February is winding down, you can still take steps to protect the cardiovascular health of yourself and others! Sedgwick County EMS offers CPR classes in our community year-round. They recently taught members at the Mid-Kansas Jewish Federation how to perform CPR on adults and infants and how to help someone who is choking.
It's lifesaving information! Statistics show that bystanders who are able to start CPR before first responders arrive improve the patient's chance of survival. Watch the video to learn why YOU should take a CPR class, for the first time or to update your skills! Contact EMS at www.sedgwickcounty.org/ems.
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More call takers join 911 Dispatch | Congratulations to 15 new Sedgwick County Emergency Communications call takers! They graduated from an extensive 8-week course and are now going through on-site training before they start answering calls on their own. 911 call takers are the initial first responders, giving hope and comfort to residents in an emergency. | Get answers to your Frequently Asked Questions! | | Sedgwick County is answering YOUR questions about the Tag Offices. On Facebook, Lexie asked - Does absolutely nobody realize they can get their tags done online...like, it's extremely simple and easy? Watch the video to learn how! | | 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! 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.
| | CERT training available in Valley Center | | |
Registration is open for Sedgwick County Emergency Management’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Basic Training Weekend. Classes will be held March 27-29, 2026, at the Valley Center Library. Participants will learn:
- Disaster preparedness
- Fire safety and utility controls
- Disaster medical operations
- Search and rescue
- Disaster psychology
Click here to sign up today. Can’t make it? Stay tuned for future dates!
| | Out and About with Commissioners | | Commissioners and County leadership recently attended the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce 2026 Chamber Chair’s Lunch. Business and community leaders gathered to discuss how thoughtful leadership, local ownership and intentional community investment help build strong, sustainable businesses. | | Connect with Sedgwick County | | | | |
