property taxes

Jackson County isn't the only place in Missouri dealing with spikes in property tax assessments. State lawmakers say they want to change the system and provide some property tax relief in the 2026 legislative session, which begins Wednesday.

With the new Kansas legislative session starting on January 12, lawmakers could tackle bills pertaining to budget cuts, taxes, school reform and more before election campaigns start in the summer.

What will Missouri lawmakers focus on in the 2026 legislation session? Pre-filed bills show that lawmakers are looking to phase out the income tax, reduce some property taxes, and invest in the state’s roads and schools — although the budget surplus is quickly disappearing due to previous tax cuts.

In tiny Hamilton, Missouri, business owners must pay property tax bills as much as five times more than in 2024 after their buildings were reassessed.

The state of Kansas will likely pay between $3-4 billion in taxpayer money to move the Kansas City Chiefs across state lines. While the new stadium will definitely generate new economic activity, the project's success may depend on local cities participating in the STAR bond district.

2025 brought a lot of grief for governments in Kansas City, Missouri, and Jackson County: the expensive departure of the city's highest-paid official, a property tax scandal that left the county's top lawmaker rebuked, and the Chiefs' planned move to Kansas. But there's something to look forward to, too: the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Officials from Kansas City Public Schools and the Kansas City Public Library joined a chorus of public comments that prompted the delay.

Under the new ownership of Dallas-based Gillon Property Group, a plan to revitalize Kansas City's Country Club Plaza is underway. Now, city officials and community leaders are facing a massive tax incentive request that they worry could hurt Kansas City Public Schools and other government services.

The tax credits are meant to provide relief for the contested 2023 assessments, which led to skyrocketing property taxes. They previously did not apply to homeowners who had agreed to a new rate after an appeal.

A majority of Jackson County homeowners will see a reduction in their property assessment this year and tax credits for the next three years. But that doesn’t necessarily mean a smaller tax bill.

After borrowing $1.4 billion to redevelop the Country Club Plaza, the Gillion Property Group is now seeking millions in tax breaks from a Kansas City agency. Residents are also concerned about new construction renderings showing 200-foot apartment buildings and a major change to the neighborhood’s style.

The vote comes after years of tax increases have incensed Jackson County residents. It was the only charter county in Missouri to appoint, rather than elect, its assessor.