Jackson County voters choose to elect a county assessor

By John Sharp

Jackson County voters overwhelmingly approved switching from a county assessor appointed by the county executive to an assessor elected by the voters themselves in a special election November 4 following years of controversy about steeply rising reassessments of homes and small businesses, many doubling or even tripling.

The steeply rising reassessments and resulting large property tax increases – particularly those on residents homes – was seen by most observers as the main factor leading to the recall and removal from office of Jackson County Executive Frank White by a large margin in a September 30 special election.

White was recalled by a 89.44% to 10.56% margin in the part of Jackson County outside KCMO and by a 75.61% to 24.39% margin in KCMO itself for an overall approval of 85.15%.

The margin of victory was even higher in the November 4 election to switch from an appointed to an elected county assessor. That measure was approved by a 90.27% to 9.73% margin in Jackson County outside KCMO and by a 83.87% to 16.13% in KCMO for an overall approval of 88.18%.

Jackson County Legislature Chairman DaRon McGee who sponsored the amendment to the county charter to make the assessor an elected position said the election of a Jackson County Assessor will take place in the 2028 August primary and November general elections when the county prosecuting attorney and sheriff also are on the ballot.

White had vetoed the measure, but the county legislature overrode his veto to put the charter amendment on the ballot.

“By electing our assessor, residents will finally have a direct say in how property is assessed, McGee said.