Kansas tax committee hears competing views on requiring elections for local tax increases

A Kansas Senate committee heard extended testimony on Senate Bill 280 on Feb. 20, with proponents arguing the measure would give taxpayers a clearer, easier voice and opponents saying the bill presents significant logistical and legal hurdles for local governments.

Dave Trabert, president of the Kansas Policy Institute, told the Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee that a direct election model is “far better for a number of reasons.” He said a direct election places “the onus on government to do something rather than on taxpayers,” and that requiring residents to travel to sign protest petitions imposes an accessibility burden.

The bill would require a direct vote of electors before a taxing entity could raise rates above a specified threshold. Supporters described the proposal as a clearer alternative to a “protest…