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Visiting legislator presents Senate tribute for Basehor's trails and fields questions on vetoed property-tax bill
Summary
A visiting state senator read an official Senate tribute praising Basehor's trail system and answered council questions about Governor Kelly's veto of House Bill 2745, saying an override would likely require a trailer bill and broader reforms such as appraisal changes or a constitutional change to give voters a direct say.
A visiting legislator read a formal Senate tribute to the City of Basehor for its trail system and then took council questions about a recently vetoed property-tax measure.
"The Kansas senate joins in extending official recognition to the city of Basehor for the development of its outstanding trail system," the legislator (speaker 3) read to the council, noting the trails provide "safe, accessible spaces throughout the community" and commending the city and its trails committee for their dedication. Jeanette Lehi, a former member of the Leavenworth County Trails Committee, told the council she and her husband use Basehor's trails nearly daily and thanked city leaders for following through on long-range plans.
During the visit Council member Sherry (speaker 6) asked about the implications of Governor Kelly's veto of House Bill 2745 and whether the Legislature might override the veto. The legislator answered at length that an override would be difficult without a follow-on or "trailer" bill that addressed concerns critics raised and that longer-term remedies under discussion include separating new construction from other tax bases, bonding adjustments and an appraisal-process overhaul. The legislator said, in part, that the goal would be to craft "some decent legislation to relieve the painful property tax" pressures while protecting cities that are operating efficiently.
Mayor (speaker 1) and council members expressed concern that a statewide measure could unfairly "punish" cities like Basehor that have managed finances conservatively. The visiting legislator said he did not believe there were sufficient votes for an override without modifications and said legislators intended to keep engaging municipal leaders on possible refinements, including the possibility of future constitutional amendments to give voters a direct role on tax-cap questions.
The council accepted the tribute and thanked the visitor for meeting with Basehor residents and leaders. No formal action on state legislation was taken by the council; the exchange was informational.
