KANSAS CITY, Missouri (KCTV/Gray News) – Thousands of Jackson County residents are frustrated as county officials say there will be no refunds after homeowners appealed their 2023 property tax assessment.

The district administration said the money had already been spent.

Jackson County is located in the westernmost part of Missouri and borders Kansas. According to the 2020 census, the population was 717,204.

Last year, an unprecedented 54,000 property owners appealed the valuation of their properties, and over 10,000 of those appeals are still pending.

The county’s announcement regarding the refunds came after the Missouri State Tax Commission asked the county to correct the assessment after errors were discovered.

The Missouri State Tax Commission has ordered Jackson County to limit property tax assessments to a 15% increase.

But many residents have had to pay far more. One of them is Laura Carey, who said she spent the last year arguing with the county over the tax increase.

Her property taxes went up 69%, and because of that, she’s now paying about $500 a month in mortgage payments, which she says she can’t afford.

“It frustrates me,” Carey said. “But I’m going to keep fighting.”

She is afraid of losing the home where she raised her five children.

“A decision that you would never have made before is now on the table,” Carey said. “When you’re retired and on a fixed income, you can’t spend more money. You can’t work overtime. You have to figure out what you’re doing.”

Carey hopes the state tax commission will hold the county accountable and enforce the tax increase to a maximum of 15 percent.

“Can I expect a refund? No. Do I want a credit? Sure,” Carey said.

However, county officials said overtaxed homeowners should not expect the problem to be resolved because the money has already been spent.

“So I wanted to educate people because they are going to get a nice check for their income refund because of this blatant error, but that’s not going to happen,” said County Administrator Troy Schulte.

Schulte said these tax shortfalls would have to be compensated for somewhere.

“If we are forced to comply with this order in its current form, we face significant cuts in central services,” said Schulte. “This includes vital areas such as our schools, fire protection and the police.”

Schulte said the county will work with the 57 taxing authorities in Jackson County to challenge the state tax commission’s order.

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