KANSAS CITY, Missouri (KCTV) – Thousands of homeowners in Jackson County are “cautiously hopeful” following the Missouri State Tax Commission’s (STC) order on the 2023 property tax assessment.

On Thursday, the attorney general’s lawsuit was dismissed by a judge after the STC ordered county officials to correct the 2023 tax roll.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey said the order met the lawsuit’s goal. A judge agreed to dismiss the case.

Tim Bullock, a homeowner in south Kansas City, said he was thrilled when he saw the order.

More coverage: Jackson County lawmakers say it’s time to end the dispute and start solving the property tax problem

“My heart was racing and I thought maybe something was finally going to be done,” Bullock said.

Bullock’s 2023 property taxes went up 40.5%, but he said no one came to assess his 1950s-built home. In November, he paid a $1,000 tax increase – money he didn’t have lying around.

“When I got my tax bill last year and it said the increase, my eyes popped out of my head,” Bullock said.

This has caused him sleepless nights over the last year and he has had to make huge financial sacrifices.

“There’s a lot of work that needs to be done on this house – electrical, plumbing, the tax is taking all the money I need to have done on this house,” Bullock said.

John Welchert, a property owner and real estate agent, said the STC’s order is a big step forward, but he is skeptical and doubts it will happen.

“How is the district supposed to pay back all the excess money it has now collected? Because everyone has paid it,” said Welchert.

Welchert owns two identical, side-by-side duplexes in Blue Springs that were valued differently. One increased in value to $321,000, the other to $361,000.

But he fought the county and settled for $172,000 for his duplexes.

“It’s terrible that we have to go through all this,” Welchert said. “I don’t know how the district can avoid this.”

While they wait, both Welchert and Bullock just want more responsibility in the future.

“I certainly hope that they are held accountable and that something is done to ensure that this never happens again, not to this extent,” Bullock said. “If it passes, it will help me greatly, and I’m sure many other residents of the city. But I know that Frank White and the county will fight this tooth and nail.”

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