Kansas Senate Committee backs constitutional amendment to cap assessed value growth, adds maintenance protection

The Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee voted to pass Senate Concurrent Resolution 16 as amended on Jan. 29, advancing a proposed constitutional amendment that would limit annual increases in final taxable assessed valuation to 3% and clarify that normal maintenance does not increase a property’s assessed value.

The committee’s amendment, adopted before the final vote, adds language to the amendment to expressly exclude routine repairs and upkeep — such as painting, new roofing, siding or window replacement — from being treated as improvements that would trigger reassessment. "Normal maintenance would not increase the valuation of your property," the committee chair said while explaining the change, adding the language mirrors existing statutory protections.

Amelia, the committee staff member who presented the measure, told the committee…