Committee authorizes amendment talks to expand Overland Park property-tax rebate pilot after positive pilot results

The Finance, Administration and Innovation Committee on Aug. 20 authorized city staff to negotiate a first amendment to the city’s property tax rebate pilot agreement with Community Capital Fund (CCF), a community-based administrator of the program.

City staff and CCF presented results from Round 1 of the pilot: of 215 completed applications, 161 applicants qualified and rebates were issued. CCF reported that $59,112 in rebates were dispersed from the $170,000 pilot appropriation, leaving $110,888 uncommitted. The presentation included applicant demographics and outreach data: five in-person technical-assistance sessions attracted 52 residents, and staff helped many applicants complete paper filings at City Hall and public libraries.

Caitlin (city staff) said she had heard “overwhelmingly positive feedback” from residents about the application process and outreach. Andrew Davis, senior program manager at Community Capital Fund, said, “We have sent the checks out. We have sent the notifications out.”

What the amendment would do: staff asked for authorization to negotiate three changes in the agreement with CCF should the committee approve—raise the income-eligibility ceiling from the pilot’s initial lower threshold to HUD’s low 80% area median income limits (the presenter cited a one-person HUD low-80% benchmark of about $62,400), clarify administrative-billing procedures, and delay the second-round opening date by 15 days to accommodate the council timeline.

Why staff recommended the change: CCF and staff said many applicants stopped short of submitting online applications after entering household income that slightly exceeded the initial, lower pilot threshold. Presentation data showed the average approved applicant’s household income (~$27,245), average eligible rebate ($358), average appraised home value (~$288,000), and mean applicant age (64). CCF recommended raising the eligibility ceiling to include more households while retaining priority tiers (for example, veterans and seniors) used to order awards.

Committee action and reaction: committee members broadly praised the pilot’s outreach and in-person assistance. Multiple members expressed support for increasing the eligibility ceiling and keeping priority ordering in place. A motion to authorize staff to negotiate the first amendment with Community Capital Fund and recommend city council approval passed unanimously (6-0).

What’s next: staff will negotiate the amendment consistent with the committee’s direction and return the agreement for formal city-council consideration. CCF said staff will reengage applicants who began but did not complete applications if the eligibility ceiling is raised.