KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jackson County, Missouri, sued more than 1,000 property owners in its county and many don’t know they’re involved.
In September, the county sued the State Tax Commission.
In the lawsuit, the county argued an order from the commission to rollback 2023 property assessments is wrong.
In the suit, the county named "all Jackson County taxpayers who had open appeals of the 2023 assessment pending before the State Tax Commission on August 6, 2024" as respondents.
An attorney representing some of those taxpayers filed a counterclaim to the lawsuit.
They argued Monday why the judge should not dismiss their counterclaim.
"We found out about it and we filed a counterclaim on behalf of her [one client] and all other similarly situated Jackson County property owners," said Nichelle Oxley, an attorney at Humphrey, Farrington & McClain. "To this point of how we got involved? The county sued us."
Oxley said the county has not served the named property owners with a summons. So many are unaware they’re part of the lawsuit.
Naming the property owners in the lawsuit is a strategy from the county to essentially stop the State Tax Commission's order from going into effect on these appeals.
The commission ordered the county to rollback 2023 property values on all properties whose assessed value increased by more than 15 percent compared to 2021 without receiving a physical inspection from the assessment department.
The county doesn't believe the one-size-fits-all approach is legal.
In the suit, the county argues it should have the opportunity to provide evidence and plead its case on how it arrived at the assessed value for each individual appeal.
The lawsuit shows there were 1,776 open cases with the State Tax Commission on August 6.
Some of the cases applied to individual homeowners; some owners are listed multiple times for multiple properties.
Matt Alexander owns three commercial properties in Kansas City. He learned about the lawsuit after KSHB 41 reporter Alyssa Jackson called him Monday evening.
"They’re suing the citizens of their city because they objected to higher taxes," Alexander said. "There will be no more property purchases in Jackson County for me ever again; probably for as long as I live."
Alexander said his family would take their tax dollars somewhere else. He has three open appeals with the state tax commission, but paid his taxes in protest.
For months, he's been trying to fight property assessment increases of 26%, 30% and 57%.
Alexander said now going to use an attorney in his battle with the county.
"I’m gonna stand up and fight these folks on my own behalf," he said. "On behalf of my family and on behalf of every Kansas Citian who can’t carry that fight for whatever reason."
The case filed by Jackson County is scheduled to go to trial Jan. 13, 2025. The judge will issue a decision on the counterclaim before then.
Last week, the judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by the State Tax Commission against Jackson County.
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KSHB 41 reporter Charlie Keegan covers politics on both sides of the state line. If you have a story idea to share, you can send Charlie an email at charlie.keegan@kshb.com.
KSHB 41 reporter Alyssa Jackson covers portions of Johnson County, including neighborhoods in Overland Park, Shawnee and Mission. Share your story idea with Alyssa.
