Geary County finance director, county appraiser clarify how ad valorem taxes compare with neighboring counties

Geary County Finance Director Tammy Robinson and the county appraiser told the Board of County Commissioners that simple comparisons of a $250,000 house across counties can be misleading and offered countywide data to clarify how ad valorem taxes affect residents.

Robinson said the county begins its budget calendar in March and prepares and adopts the budget "in accordance with state laws and statutes," with statutory deadlines for the clerk and appraiser offices and required publication notices for hearings. She said the county’s budget baseline and long-term objectives are set annually by the commission.

The county appraiser, identified in the meeting only as Travis (county appraiser), explained that comparing a single sale price across counties often compares unlike properties. "A $250,000 house in Geary County doesn't look like a $250,000 house in Riley County," he said, and described using a representative three‑bedroom, two‑bath ranch in the 1,500–2,000 sq. ft. range when making comparisons.

Using recent sales and median appraised values, the appraiser said the median appraised residential value in Geary County is $175,195 and in Riley County $241,400. He reported that the tax bill on the median‑valued house would be about $1,134 in Geary County and about $1,053 in Riley County—roughly an $80 difference—not the several‑hundred‑dollar gap some constituents had cited. The appraiser noted Geary County’s per‑square‑foot values near $175 versus about $210 in Riley County, and he said commercial property shares of the ad valorem base differ between the counties.

Robinson noted the county has reduced the number of levy funds and cut the mill levy over recent years. She said Geary County’s mill levy moved from about 70.416 to 60.109 in 2023, then to 56.753 in 2024 and 54.803 in 2025; she reported the budget currently shows a tentative mill rate of 56.301 that could shift slightly when final valuations arrive in November. Robinson also described internal efficiency steps and software changes intended to improve transparency and help department heads manage budgets.

Commissioners and staff emphasized that the elected governing bodies set taxes, that the county collects and distributes the bills for other taxing entities, and that multiple factors—median values, commercial base, and differing local levies—drive differences in tax bills between jurisdictions. Robinson said her presentation and the appraiser’s numbers were intended to correct an oversimplified example provided by a constituent and to give residents a fuller context for understanding ad valorem tax changes.

Robinson and the appraiser directed listeners to state Department of Revenue and county financial materials for county valuation history and advised residents to watch for final valuations in November. The county finance packet and a detailed budget worksheet are available on the county website under the finance tab, Robinson said.