Committee hears HCR 5011 to limit taxable valuations with rolling average; advocates and local officials split on effects

House Concurrent Resolution 5011, which would amend Section 1 of Article 11 of the Kansas Constitution to set taxable valuation for three property subclasses based on the lesser of fair market value or an average fair market value, was discussed at a committee hearing.

The resolution would apply to three subclasses—residential real property, commercial and industrial real property, and buildings and other improvements on land devoted to agricultural use and mobile homes classified as personal property—and proposes that, beginning Jan. 1, 2027, taxable valuation be set at the lesser of current fair market value or an average fair market value over a number of years that the Legislature would later set. The House adopted HCR 5011 on March 7 on a vote of 117 to 4.

Why it matters: Proponents said the change would reduce sudden valuation spikes in taxable value that can make property taxes harder for homeowners to afford; opponents said the change would not, on its own, lower taxes and could shift burdens or create ballot confusion without a set number of years for the…