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Resident urges county investigation into appraiser office; commissioners agree to follow-up meeting
Summary
A Wichita property owner told the Sedgwick County commission he believes the county appraiser's office has repeatedly violated state law. Commissioners agreed to receive the material, schedule a meeting with the appraiser’s office and request a staff memo explaining statutory options for local oversight.
Michael Ondra, a Wichita property owner and local business operator, told the Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners that he believes the county appraiser’s office has “violated state statutes” in real-property appraisals and during appeals since 2022 and asked the board to consider creating a local hearing panel under Kansas law.
“Since 2022, that department has and continues to violate state statutes as it relates to the appraisal of real property and the appeal process,” Ondra said, reading from a prepared letter he supplied to the board. He said the office’s reported 99 percent success rate in appraisals may reflect “abuse of the taxpayers and conduct at appeal hearings.”
The county received the letter and supporting documents into the public record and commissioners directed staff to take next steps. Commissioner Howell said she has long advocated for establishing a county hearing panel and called for a renewed discussion among the new commission. Commissioner Bubaugh asked staff to arrange a meeting involving the county appraiser, Ondra and a commissioner to review Ondra’s concerns and look for best practices.
County Manager Tom Stoltz and county staff agreed to file Ondra’s materials in the public record. County counsel Justin Wagner was asked to prepare a memo explaining the statute Ondra referenced (KSA chapter cited by the speaker) and the county’s options for oversight, including the process for establishing a county hearing panel under state law.
Action taken: the board moved to receive and file the public comment and supporting materials. The motion passed on a voice roll call with ayes recorded from all five commissioners.
Why it matters: The commission’s follow-up — a meeting with the appraiser’s office and a staff memo about statutory options — could lead to administrative or procedural changes to how property-appraisal disputes are handled locally. Ondra asked specifically that the county consider the county hearing panel permitted under state statute.
What’s next: Staff agreed to set up the meeting and to place Ondra’s letter and attachments in the public documents. County counsel will draft the requested explanatory memo on the relevant statute and process for consideration by the commission.
