Up to 200,000 homeowners in Jackson County, Missouri were the victims of a flawed and inadequate assessment process that failed to comply with state law. This illegal process is causing undue hardships for many, leading to family financial instability, loss of their homes, an unnecessary increase in homelessness, an increase in the cost to operate rentals and a loss of taxpayers from our county. We demand a correction immediately.

We were denied our due process and thereby denied our ability to properly participate in the administrative review and appeals process crucial to the fundamental protection of civil rights.

MO State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick says that he believes “the failure of the Jackson County Assessment Department to abide by the law should invalidate the increases in assessed valuation over 15 percent.” We agree.

Even the State Attorney General, Andrew Bailey says that “Jackson County’s 2023 Assessments were not only unlawful, but the failures were systemic – from failing to provide proper notice and inspections under the law, to coercing property owners to drop their appeals. Repeatedly, Jackson County violated the rights of property owners, adding insult to injury at a time in which inflation is already a scourge upon Missouri citizens.” To continue this charade is outrageous. It must stop now.

We also want our $17,000,000+ back which was wasted by paying Tyler Technologies for a flawed and illegal process directed by the Assessment Department.

We, the Taxpayers, DEMAND:

1. The Jackson County Legislature call a Special Legislative Meeting immediately to fix the botched assessment as suggested by the State Auditor’s report
2. The County Executive immediately use his power to “correct errors” in the assessment: Roll back to 2022 values, or cap all assessments at 15% maximum
3. The Board of Equalization take action today to set a CAP on all increases of less than 15%
4. Finally, we demand that the Assessment Staff and the Board of Equalization correct the assessment values and stop coercing and intimidating taxpayers, and that they treat them fairly and respectfully throughout this process

Action items for taxpayers to do today:

1. Pay your property taxes under protest (there is a legal way to do it, CLICK HERE www.Ladylawyerkc.com for instructions & also see video below)
2. Call today and demand a Special Session be immediately convened to address the assessment issue by contacting DaRon McGee, Chair of the Jackson County Legislature, at 816-881-3322, or dmcgee@jacksongov.org
3. Sign this petition and share it with your neighbors so that we can send a strong & clear message with our demands for fairness
 

Even the State Tax Commission has reviewed the findings of fact presented to county officials by the Auditor and agrees with the Auditor's summary of the serious problems with the Jackson County 2023 assessment (impacting metropolitan Kansas City) described in the initial report. EVERYONE, including aggrieved taxpayers—many of whom are being wrongly priced out of their homes—is in agreement that the entire process is flawed and illegal. It must be corrected immediately. Inaction and business as usual is not an option.

The Jackson County Assessment Department should be required to produce a fair and accurate assessment for Jackson County property owners and ensure that our due process is protected today and in the future.

                  ---Signed by a Jackson County, MO Taxpayer

To make sure we keep you posted with updates and any potential Action Steps, please feel free to share your email address. CLICK HERE

News video with Sherry: https://www.kctv5.com/2023/12/19/local-lawyer-explains-how-pay-property-taxes-under-protest/

Articles about the state findings:

https://joehoft.com/breaking-exclusive-missouri-ag-and-state-auditor-taking-on-unlawful-excessive-property-tax-assessments-affecting-hundreds-of-thousands-blackrock-owned-firm-involved/