Kansas City, MO – Eleven area school districts are suing Jackson County for allegedly giving incorrect property tax assessments.
Independence Superintendent Jim Hinson says the school districts lost a total of $35 million because the county used old figures and did not count several plots of school-owned land.
The county blames the economic downturn for the lower property values. Home values in Jackson County are down 7 percent this year.
Officials from school districts in Independence, Blue Springs, Hickman Mills, Grandview, Lee's Summit, Fort Osage, Center, Grain Valley, Lone Jack, Oak Grove and Raytown announced the lawsuit at a Thursday press conference.
According to the Kansas City Star, the Jackson County Circuit Court could hear the case as early as next week.