The state of Missouri is suing, claiming the county broke laws when it carried out the assessment process last year.
Opening arguments heard in Jackson County property tax assessments bench trial
The state of Missouri is suing, claiming the county broke laws when it carried out the assessment process last year.
KMBC NINE NEWS RIGHT NOW. DAY ONE OF THE JACKSON COUNTY PROPERTY ASSESSMENT TRIAL HAS JUST WRAPPED UP. WE WERE THE FIRST TO HAVE A CREW INSIDE THAT COURTROOM THIS MORNING. KMBC NINE’S MORGAN MOBLEY HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THIS ALL DAY, AND SHE JOINS US LIVE WITH POWERFUL TESTIMONY. MORGAN. YEAH, THERE WERE 6.5 HOURS OF WITNESSES TAKING THE STANDS AND POWERFUL TESTIMONY, AS WELL AS SOME DISCOVERIES THAT BROUGHT AUDIBLE GASPS TO THE COURTROOM IN OPENING STATEMENTS, JACKSON COUNTY ARGUED THERE IS PREJUDICE THAT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED AND THAT THERE IS A POLITICAL ELEMENT TO THIS LAWSUIT. THEY SAY THEIR SYSTEM ISN’T PERFECT, AND THAT’S WHY THEY ALLOW APPEALS. THE STATE ARGUED, BECAUSE OF A LACK OF DATA AND VOLUME OF ERRORS, NOT ONLY IS A SYSTEM CORRUPT, BUT THE APPEAL PROCESS WAS TO THE STATE IS PUSHING FOR A REMEDY THAT COMPLETELY ELIMINATES THIS ASSESSMENT, WHICH WOULD BRING TAXPAYERS BACK TO THEIR PREVIOUS PAYMENT FROM ASSESSMENTS DONE IN 2021. WE TALKED TO COUNTY LEGISLATOR MANNY ABARCA, WHO SAYS THE ONLY OFFICIALS STILL DEFENDING THIS ASSESSMENT ARE THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND THE COUNTY ASSESSOR. HE SHARES THIS MESSAGE FOR TAXPAYERS. I MEAN, I THINK THAT THIS IS THEIR DAY IN COURT, RIGHT? I MEAN, THE LEGISLATURE IS LIMITED IN OUR POWERS TO IMPACT THE PROCESS OF ASSESSMENT. THIS SHOULD BE A GOOD CHECK OF POWER AND THE REALITY IS THAT THIS ASSESSMENT IS IS WRONG, IT’S BAD. AND INACCURATE. IN THE COURTROOM, WE ALSO HEARD FROM A WHISTLEBLOWER WHO SAYS HE WAS FIRED FOR STANDING UP FOR TAXPAYERS WHEN HE KNEW THEY WERE BEING DEFRAUDED. WE’LL SHARE OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH HIM COMING UP TONIGHT AT FIVE AND 6:00, REPORTING LIVE AT THE JACKSON COUNTY COURTHOUSE. MORGAN MOBLEY, KMBC NINE NEWS MORGAN. THANK YOU. THE JACKSON COUNTY ASSESSOR IS THE ONLY UNELECTED ASSESSOR IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI. ABARCA IS SET TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION ON MONDAY TO CHANGE THAT. AND IN 15 MINUTES, WE TAKE YOU BACK TO OUR MAY CONVERSATION WITH ABARCA AND A SECOND LEGISLATOR. THE TROUBL
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Opening arguments heard in Jackson County property tax assessments bench trial
The state of Missouri is suing, claiming the county broke laws when it carried out the assessment process last year.
KMBC 9 News Reporter
A trial over Jackson County's controversial property assessments is now underway.The state of Missouri is suing, claiming the county broke laws when it carried out the assessment process last year.During opening statements, Jackson County argued that prejudice had been established and that this lawsuit had a political element.The state points to a Missouri statute that notes if a property assessment goes up by 15% or more, the assessor is required to notify the taxpayer and perform a physical inspection.The state believes that homeowners didn't get proper notice of appraisals. When taking the stand, the county said the system wasn't perfect, which is why homeowners were able to appeal. KMBC 9 talked to a homeowner who came to sit in on this trial. He took issue with the county’s claim."I think that's a ridiculous argument because I don't think they really did the assessment to begin with,” homeowner Kyle Wehner said. “They just made numbers up. And then they said, well, it wasn't perfect, but it wasn't even close to perfect.”The state is asking the court to reject the assessments and stop Jackson County from collecting payments based on them.We’ll have more updates on the trial as it continues. Proceedings are expected to wrap up around 3 p.m. on Thursday. Things are set to resume Friday morning. KMBC coverage of Jackson County property assessments:Prefiled bills in Missouri would make Jackson County assessor's office an elected position, provide relief for seniorsAttorney general's lawsuit against Jackson County seeks to void assessment increases above 15 percentClass action lawsuits against Jackson County, Tyler Technologies over property tax assessment process dismissed by Missouri Supreme CourtMissouri Attorney General files lawsuit against Jackson County over property tax assessment processKansas City attorney offers advice paying for paying Jackson County property taxes under protest'Deficiencies and noncompliance' found in preliminary audit of 2023 Jackson County property tax assessment process
KANSAS CITY, Mo. —
A trial over Jackson County's controversial property assessments is now underway.
The state of Missouri is suing, claiming the county broke laws when it carried out the assessment process last year.
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During opening statements, Jackson County argued that prejudice had been established and that this lawsuit had a political element.
Lawsuit: Jackson County broke the law several times during 2023 property assessment process
The state points to a Missouri statute that notes if a property assessment goes up by 15% or more, the assessor is required to notify the taxpayer and perform a physical inspection.
The state believes that homeowners didn't get proper notice of appraisals.
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JAX CO PROPERTY ASSESSMENT TRIAL: Taking the stand now is a real estate broker of 40 years - says he was asked by the head of Tyler Technologies (software company the county uses for appraisals) to add 10% on top of every value already assessed. Full update at 4, 5 and 6 on @kmbc pic.twitter.com/Uh0l0HHSrJ
— Morgan Mobley (@MMobleyKMBC9) June 27, 2024
When taking the stand, the county said the system wasn't perfect, which is why homeowners were able to appeal.
KMBC 9 talked to a homeowner who came to sit in on this trial. He took issue with the county’s claim.
"I think that's a ridiculous argument because I don't think they really did the assessment to begin with,” homeowner Kyle Wehner said. “They just made numbers up. And then they said, well, it wasn't perfect, but it wasn't even close to perfect.”
The state is asking the court to reject the assessments and stop Jackson County from collecting payments based on them.
We’ll have more updates on the trial as it continues.
Proceedings are expected to wrap up around 3 p.m. on Thursday. Things are set to resume Friday morning.
KMBC coverage of Jackson County property assessments:
- Prefiled bills in Missouri would make Jackson County assessor's office an elected position, provide relief for seniors
- Attorney general's lawsuit against Jackson County seeks to void assessment increases above 15 percent
- Class action lawsuits against Jackson County, Tyler Technologies over property tax assessment process dismissed by Missouri Supreme Court
- Missouri Attorney General files lawsuit against Jackson County over property tax assessment process
- Kansas City attorney offers advice paying for paying Jackson County property taxes under protest
- 'Deficiencies and noncompliance' found in preliminary audit of 2023 Jackson County property tax assessment process
