Note from Commissioner Howell:
Property Taxes are Frustrating. Here's How You Can Speak Up.
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As a Sedgwick County Commissioner, I hear a consistent message from the people I serve: property taxes are out of control and deeply frustrating. I hear this from retirees trying to stay in their homes, from working families juggling rising costs, and from renters whose landlords are passing on higher tax bills. These concerns are real, and I share them.
We are now in the final stages of preparing the 2026 Sedgwick County Budget, and I want you to know - THIS IS YOUR BEST OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN!
The proposed budget is now online at sedgwickcounty.org/finance, and two public hearings are scheduled: Wednesday, July 30, at 6 p.m. and Wednesday, August 20, at 9 a.m. Both hearings will be held in the lower-level auditorium of the Ruffin Building, 100 N Broadway in Wichita.
In addition to attending in person, you can also leave your comments online through our public comment forum linked on that same Finance webpage. This gives everyone a chance to be heard—whether you can make the meeting or not.
Why do property taxes make people so angry? It’s not just about the money - though for many, the financial strain is real. It’s about fairness, transparency and accountability. People feel like they’re being taxed on hypothetical home values to which they never agreed. They don’t understand how assessments are determined, and they rarely see a clear connection between what they pay and what they get.
Even worse, the system often appears to favor wealthier property owners while creating disproportionate burdens for those with fewer resources. Add to that the impact on renters, small businesses, and younger families trying to buy a first home, and you have a recipe for frustration.
Let me be clear: I support funding essential services - public safety, roads, mental healthcare and more, but we must do it responsibly. We need a tax system that is not only effective, but also fair and sustainable. That starts with listening to the people who pay the bills.
I’m just one vote on the Sedgwick County Commission, but I believe your voice matters. If you think we’re spending too much or not enough in the right places, now is the time to speak up. Whether it's at a public hearing or through our online comment portal, your feedback can influence how we move forward.
Let’s work together to create a budget—and a property tax system—that works for everyone.
| | 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, Aug. 11, 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, Aug.19, 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, Aug. 29, 7-9 a.m.
- Calvary Baptist Church, Gymnasium. Enter at the glass doors on east side at 1636 E. Patriot, Derby 67037
| | Aug. 26 Deadline for Flood Damage Report & Loan Applications | | |
Flood victims still have until Aug. 26 to apply for financial assistance for physical and economic losses from the severe storms and flooding that occurred June 3-7, 2025. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering low-interest federal disaster loans to small businesses, private nonprofits and residents in the Kansas counties of Butler, Chase, Cowley, Elk, Greenwood, Harvey, Marion, Sedgwick and Sumner.
- Businesses and nonprofits may borrow up to $2 million to replace or repair real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.
- Homeowners and Renters are eligible for home and personal property loans up to $100,000 (renters) or $500,000 (homeowners).
- Resources are available to assist with business operating expenses associated with the disaster.
- Funding is available for future mitigation projects as well.
- There is no obligation to take a loan after applying.
Even though the SBA has closed its Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOC) in Sedgwick and Butler Counties, applications can be accepted online at https://lending.sba.gov.
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Flood victims are encouraged to report their damages through the Public Damage Reporting Survey. Simply scan this QR code to access the survey, which is available through Aug. 26, 2025. Resources for flood victims are available at Flood and Water Damage Resources | Sedgwick County, Kansas.
| | Emergency Management Director Wins National Award | | |
Kudos to Sedgwick County Emergency Management (SCEM) Director Julie Stimson (on the right)! She was recently named the Emergency Manager of the Year for Region 7 by the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM). Region 7 includes Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri.
Also in July, SCEM conducted joint training with the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and the South Central Kansas Healthcare Coalition to practice setting up the Coalition’s disaster tent (below). This mobile shelter can be heated or cooled and deployed statewide to serve a variety of purposes during an emergency. Cooperation and training between multiple agencies are key factors to staying prepared for any disaster.
| | EMS Employees Earn Promotions & Stork Coins | | |
Congratulations to 19 Sedgwick County EMS employees (above) who received well-deserved promotions
Paramedics Madison Loos and Brandon Rudick (left) earned a different kind of recognition - pink stork coins for their assistance in delivering a healthy baby girl!
| | Tag Offices Work to Streamline End-of-Month Renewals | | |
Sedgwick County Tag Offices have made changes to improve the customer experience during the busiest days of the month. Tag Offices will no longer handle walk-in title work from the 27th through the 2nd each month and will instead focus on renewals and select services, to reduce wait times and keep lines moving. During these peak business dates, customers needing title transactions will be required to schedule an appointment.
End-of-month renewal traffic is especially high, and renewals are typically much quicker to process than title transactions. By focusing on these faster services during high demand days, Sedgwick County Tag Offices can serve more customers efficiently.
From the 27th through the 2nd each month, our team will continue to provide the following services on a walk-in basis:
- Renewals
- Plate refunds
- Lien releases
- 1-day inspection permits
- Temporary and permanent disabled placards/plates
- Replacement plates/decals
- Duplicate registrations
While Sedgwick County Tag Offices will no longer handle walk-in title transactions from the 27th through the 2nd each month, customers can schedule an appointment for title work, renewals and other services at one of the following locations:
- 2525 W. Douglas Ave., Wichita
- 5620 E. Kellogg St., Wichita
- 610 S. Tyler Rd., Wichita
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1941 E. 61st St. North, Park City
- 620 N. Rock Road, Suite 300, Derby
Appointments can be scheduled online at Reserve Your Spot In Line | Sedgwick County, Kansas or by using the QLess app - QLess on Google Play or QLess on the App Store. For more information on Tag Office services, visit Sedgwick County Tag Office | Sedgwick County, Kansas.
Sedgwick County appreciates the understanding and patience of our citizens, as we make this change to serve you better!
| | Meet K9 Violet, Sedgwick County's New Team Member | | K9 Violet made her public debut this week! The 15-month-old highly trained Belgian Malinois is training to join the Sedgwick County Fire District 1 search and rescue operations. Once she’s certified, she will help track down missing or trapped people during emergencies. Watch her in action in the video above, as she finds a “live victim” trapped in a culvert during a demonstration with her handler, SCFD1 Firefighter Joshua Smith. | | Cast Your Ballot in the 2025 Primary Election | | Early in-person voting is now underway at the Sedgwick County Election Office, 510 N. Main St., Suite 101, for the 2025 Primary Election. Contests on the ballot include Wichita City Council District 1, USD 259 Wichita Districts 1 and 5, and a special local sales tax election for the City of Maize. Five satellite locations for advance voting open July 31, and Primary Election Day is Aug. 5. For voting options and hours, visit Election Office | Sedgwick County, Kansas. | | Appraiser Honored for Three Decades of Service | | Appraiser Mark Clark is retiring after more than 30 years with Sedgwick County. At the July 16 meeting, Commissioners thanked him for his hard work and dedication and held a reception in his honor. | | COMCARE video series dispels myths about mental healthcare | | Sedgwick County COMCARE created a series of videos to end the misinformation and stigma surrounding mental illness. Watch the video below to learn more about the effectiveness of mental health treatments. | | Sedgwick County employees named Hometown Heroes | | |
The Wichita Wind Surge and KAKE-TV honored several Sedgwick County employees in July as Hometown Heroes.
- Retired Sheriff's Lieutenant Mary Mattingly (not pictured) was recognized for her work since the 1990's with the Leaders, Achievers and Winners (LAW) Camp for kids ages 10-14. Through fun activities the week-long camp teaches children what first responders do and provides positive role models.
- Sedgwick County Emergency Communications Deputy Director Alayna Moreno (on the right) was named a Hometown Hero for her leadership in the 911 Dispatch Center during the severe storms and flooding on June 3 and June 17. She helped her team answer about 6,200 calls for help and dispatched emergency crews to rescue stranded residents.
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- COMCARE's Christian Wells was instrumental in starting the Integrated Care Team - a mobile crisis team that responds to calls across Sedgwick County to help people feeling suicidal or mentally unstable.
Award recipients receive a personalized, commemorative Wind Surge jersey, and a video about them plays on the big screen during the game and on KAKE News. To watch their stories, visit www.kake.com/HometownHeroes. Congratulations to all of our Hometown Heroes!
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Sedgwick County Celebrates Graduation of 9-1-1 Call Takers
Emergency Communications welcomed 11 new call takers to the 9-1-1 Dispatch team, after the recruits completed six weeks of training. Call takers also go through five weeks of on-the-job training before they start answering calls on their own. Welcome aboard!
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Deputies Show Community Spirit at Local Events
The first-ever Sheriff's Benefit FUNd Run at Sedgwick County Park July 26 was a big success, with 115 runners participating. The event raised about $5,000 for the Holiday Food Box Program that feeds more than 400 families each year in December.
Sheriff Easter and his team also joined other first responders in a parade July 9 at the Sedgwick County Fair, showing off the big trucks that help serve residents in times of emergency.
| | City of Andale adds safe disposal site for drugs | | |
A new MedSafe disposal kiosk opened in the City Hall building in Andale at 326 N. Main St. MedSafe kiosks allow residents to safely dispose of unwanted, unused, or expired medications. This includes prescription, controlled substances, and over-the-counter medicine. There is no charge, no ID check, and no questions asked.
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ERC Graduation Marks Progress for At-Risk Youth
Sedgwick County Department of Corrections held a graduation ceremony for 14 juvenile offenders and at-risk youth who completed coursework at the Evening Reporting Center (ERC). The program helps graduates make better choices in the future.
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