Judge rules against Jackson County in property tax suit

By Kathy Feist

A judge in the Jackson County Circuit has ruled in favor of the Missouri State Tax Commission in the litigation Jackson County V. Missouri State Tax Commission. The ruling maintains that Jackson County must roll back 2023 and 2024 property taxes to reflect no more than a 15 percent increase from the 2022 value. 

Many property owners in Jackson County paid more than a 15 percent increase in their 2023 and 2024 property taxes. In August 2024, the state Tax Commission ruled that errors by the county’s assessment department affected 75 percent of the county’s 300,000 properties and that Jackson County must roll back property values  that reflected more than a 15 percent increase.

Instead, Jackson County challenged the order with a civil lawsuit in September, claiming the Commission did not properly follow the legal process. 

On March 31, Judge Jacqueline Cook ruled against Jackson County on all counts. 

In response, Jackson County released the following statement:

“Despite the court’s finding in this case, that same order had previously been ruled unenforceable in a separate proceeding. The inconsistency between rulings highlights the complexity of the situation and underscores why the County is carefully determining its next steps.”

“Even if the County were in agreement with the order, unwinding the 2023 assessments would have significant and unequal consequences. Revisiting assessments now could cause some residents, particularly those in neighborhoods that haven’t appreciated as rapidly, to pay more in taxes than the actual market value of their homes would justify.”

“Jackson County will continue to work with the County Legislature, the State Tax Commission and local taxing jurisdictions to determine the best path forward.”

Jackson County Legislator Manuel Abarca also released a statement far different from the one issued by the county’s communications office. 

“This ruling is yet another example of the continued failures of the current County Executive and his administration” said Legislator Abarca. “Frank White has repeatedly shown a disregard for transparency, accountability, and competent governance in Jackson County.”

Jackson County Legislator Sean Smith, who has been actively involved in the case, said “This is a massive win for taxpayers. Missouri Courts have now repeatedly affirmed that Jackson County Assessor failed to comply with the law in the 2023 Assessment.”

Smith has called on Chairman DaRon McGee to schedule an emergency Special Session to address the ruling. 

While no meeting has been set yet, McGee said he applauds the ruling. 

“Time and time again I and a majority of my colleagues implored [White] to re-examine the failures of his team to properly set values,” he said in a released statement. “The Legislature voted to cap increases at 15% based on state law and given the failures that were so plainly evident by the record number of appeals and hearing testimony directly from property owners. Our legislative vote was ignored and the administration continued down the path of failing our citizens.”

McGee says he expects the administration will appeal the decision.