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County appraiser reports $104.1 million assessed valuation for 2026; statute change affects 'waste' classification
Summary
Wabaunsee County's 2026 assessed valuation is $104,109,079, a 4.45% increase over 2025; appraiser Ryan Michaelis warned a 2025 Kansas law removing the 'waste' classification on pasture could raise isolated parcel valuations by about 30%.
Appraiser Ryan Michaelis presented the county's 2026 valuation summary: "Wabaunsee County's total assessed valuation for 2026 is $104,109,079.00," a 4.45% increase from 2025. He detailed class changes: residential and farm homesites increased a combined 4.9% (average residential +2.7%), ag land +4.0%, commercial property +2.4% including new construction, and 67.9% of county valuation is residential/farm homesites.
Michaelis explained the effect of a 2025 action by the Kansas Legislature that removed the 'waste' area classification (areas with canopy cover) from pasture ground; he said isolated parcels could see roughly a 30% valuation increase because canopy cover is now measured via NRCS aerial photos. Michaelis noted that 10.9% of ag land tax statements are mailed to out‑of‑state addresses (29 states represented and one overseas military base), representing about 53,000 acres.
