School committee reviews property-tax explainer to share with district households

Members of the Shawnee Mission School district Finance and Facilities Committee reviewed a draft two-page explainer intended to help residents understand items on their property tax statements and how those dollars are used.

The document breaks down taxing entities shown on a property tax bill, explains the purpose of common school levies and bonds, and includes a short explanation of how property tax is calculated and what the “revenue neutral rate” means. Russell Mapp, the district’s chief financial officer, summarized the package and said the draft will live on the district budget and finance web page once finalized. "When I do get calls, it's usually when they get their tax bill in the mail and they see the various 5 twelves and they don't quite…