While the City hasn't raised Property Tax we're all experiencing asset inflation so we're paying more in property taxes. 1. Isn't this taxing unrealized gains? And the City is taking in more in taxes because of this. 2. Do you think the City should be reducing the mill levy instead of keeping it flat?

Property Taxes, keeping the Mill flat is certainly better than it going up. Unfortunately, the city portion of our property tax bill is only 21% so 79% is an issue out of our control. I have seen/heard in the last few months that 36% (I think) of our Taxable Property is not on the tax rolls. Now we are considering a massive tax incentive package for Central Mall. That probably would push that 36% number closer to 40%. That would mean the remaining 60% of taxable property has to pay 40% higher bills to make up for the Tax Exempt or Abated Properties. This is a longer term issue as I believe these deals (For the Developer/Owner) typically last 20 years. Seems like if it's a viable business idea, it should stand on its own and not Burden the taxpayer and pull business from already established businesses in town. We need to decide what we want to be when we grow up. We are never going to be Overland Park West or have a Shopping Center like The Legends. Focus on our attributes we have going for us, a Regional Hub and the Crossroads of the US!

Why do we say we own a home, yet if we don't pay the taxes on it after we already have bought it the city will take it. Why do seniors, those on fixed income and disabled veterans pay taxes? Haven't they already done their fair share? I think so! Why since 1997 (in Salina), has our property taxes gone up more than TWICE that of inflation? Why has the mill levy by the city increased by 15% during that same time frame, yet we have only had an increase of only 4% in population growth? In the last five years, Kansas has lost 7% of its population while states like Tennessee have grown by 10% during that time frame. Why is that? Taxes are lower in Tennessee and there isn't any income tax that's why. Why are people moving to Florida and Texas? Taxes are part of the problem and I am for reducing the mill levy and making the government operate much more efficiently and responsibly to make the tax burden less on our citizens.

Yes, I guess in a way they are taxing unrealized gains if you buy a house for $200k and it's now worth $300k but you haven't sold the property you haven't received that profit yet. Maybe we could look at something like you pay the property tax at the valuation when you purchased or built the property for the duration that you own the property? I am open to new ideas that keep more money in the pockets of the people. They have to be taking in more revenue with valuations being so high and increasing every year if the mill levy stays the same. I would be in favor of reducing the mill levy and think they should have done that in previous years, I do not like property taxes and they should be kept as low as possible. I could go on and on about property taxes, how it affects retirees on a fixed income, landlords pass it on to their renters etc. it affects everyone except those that are exempt.