"Jackson County, Missouri Leaders Seek Solutions for Soaring Property Assessments"

The Jackson County Legislature in Missouri passed a resolution requesting tax relief for property owners, but the resolution is unlikely to have any legal effect. The resolution, introduced by Legislator Manny Abarca IV, calls for the Board of Equalization to discard the 2023 property valuations and impose a cap of a 15% increase in property values. However, the Jackson County Assessment Director stated that she will not follow this recommendation, as state law requires property taxes to be based on valuation. Despite lacking legal force, Abarca believes it is important to make a statement and ensure that the voices of the people are heard. The legislature also considered a resolution to freeze property tax rates for seniors, but postponed any action on it. Many property owners have appealed their valuations, and the deadline for appeals has been extended due to the high volume.