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State Rep Goes into Action on Property Valuation Jumps

By David Meyer

04/22/2013

(KAIR) -- A State Representative has sprung into action in an effort to help a slew of Atchison County property owners affected by a recent jump in property valuation.

Jerry Henry, a Cummings Democrat, sent out letters to Governor Sam Brownback, Department of Revenue Secretary Nick Jordan and officials with Property Valuation Division addressing the problem.

Henry was in attendance of a recent Atchison County Commissioner meeting where a group of those owners expressed concerns to Property Valuation Division Deputy Director Roger Hamm.

The change in assessments, centered on what is classified as wasteland within the “other” category, came from a Kansas Supreme Court ruling that indicated timbered property that was used for hunting in Sumner County was determined as wasteland under the “other” category.

In the meeting, Hamm confirmed only five counties are following this assessment procedure directed by the Property Valuation Division, including Atchison County.

Henry says he advocated in his letter to state officials a change of policy to make it more fair and balanced.

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Department of Wildlife and Parks Secretary Robin Jennison came to Atchison last week as a guest of Henry’s and was informed about the property valuation situation in the county.

Henry says they discussed the potential risk with the current assessments.

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Henry says after sending the letter, he got a response last week from Property Valuation Director David Harper.

Harper indicated he called for a meeting Friday involving the county Appraisers from the five counties affected and has now formed a committee that includes Atchison County Appraiser Jim Lampe to determine if the policy should be implemented statewide, or possibly re-adjusted by the May 20th appraiser deadline to report assessments.

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