Jackson County property owners fight back against tax assessment hikes

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Local business owners in Jackson County are speaking out against what they call unfair and excessive property tax assessments, some of which have increased by more than 600 percent. Advocates are equipping them with the tools they need to fight back.

One Lee’s Summit-area mechanic, who requested anonymity out of fear of losing customers and profits, said he’s appealing his 2025 commercial property assessment after it jumped from $105,000 to $449,000. He explains it’s a $344,000 increase that could cost him an additional $10,000 in taxes.

“You just have so much invested in it, and I feel like no one’s gonna take that away from you,” he said. “You’re not gonna let that happen.”

The business owner said his shop has been open since 1999. He’s already working 10 to 14 hours a day and struggling to keep up.

“It just means you have to work harder to make it, and how much harder can you work when you’re already working 10-14 hours a day?”

He said that although some businesses face the threat of closing, he will fight to keep his doors open for as long as he can.

“It’s like all these businesses made it through COVID, and then the county and the assessment department say, ‘Let’s just make it harder on these people after they’ve worked so hard to make it through COVID.’”

In addition to appealing the business assessment, he’s also fighting an estimated 57 percent property tax increase on his home. Advocates say he’s not alone and, more importantly, that residents and business owners should know these assessments are not final.

“Where does it end?” said Stacy Johnson-Cosby, president of the Kansas City Regional Housing Alliance. “They need to get it right and stop playing games with people’s lives, their businesses, and their livelihoods.”

On the state level, the Missouri House announced this week it is forming a special interim committee to take on property tax reform. Their job is to review property tax laws and find solutions that protect homeowners.

Meanwhile, here at home, Johnson-Cosby is working with Jackson County Legislator Sean Smith and other officials to host a property tax appeals workshop. The event aims to equip property owners with the tools and knowledge needed to challenge their assessments.

“Our goal is to give them the tools and the resources they need to file an appeal,” Johnson-Cosby said. “Because if they don’t appeal, they’re going out of business. And the thing that people aren’t thinking about is, if the value is wrong and it’s too high, they’re not going to be able to sell those businesses. So if they can’t keep them, and they can’t sell them, we’re gonna end up with empty commercial properties sprinkling our city.”

The business owner is encouraging others not to back down from challenging these assessments and do what they can to protect what’s theirs.

“Just don’t give up. Fight the best you can against it. Don’t just sit back and let them do it to you,” he said.

The Jackson County Commercial Property Tax Appeals Workshop will be held Thursday, June 26, at 6 p.m. at The Loretto and will feature a panel of tax, legal, and commercial real estate experts. Registration is strongly encouraged.