Another trial starts over troubled Jackson County property tax assessment

LEE’S SUMMIT, Mo. (KCTV) - Another trial is underway over the Jackson County property tax assessments. This time, it’s the lawsuit the City of Lee’s Summit filed in 2023.

The city claims that Jackson County failed to do its job in assessing taxes, and that failure has cost the city in lost revenue. This is the first day of testimony in the bench trial being heard by Cass County Judge Derek Spencer -- all Jackson County judges were reclused as the case involves the county. It’s scheduled to run through Friday.

Two assistant city managers testified on Monday. Ryan Elam testified that assessed values didn’t account for new construction, and some parcels were simply missing.

Donna Lake, the former Kansas City Fire Department Chief who has been with the city of Lee’s Summit for two years, also testified.

She told the judge that the city lost revenue because Lee’s Summit residents had been able to pay their Jackson County property taxes at City Hall—but haven’t been able to since April of 2024.

Lee’s Summit received a 1% payment fee for collecting, but the city lost its connection to the system the county uses. The county has not restored the connection.

This is just the latest chapter in the ongoing saga of the troubled Jackson County tax assessment.

More than 54,000 people filed appeals, and another Cass County Judge has yet to rule on a case heard in December.

That trial centered on whether a State Tax Commission order that capped assessment increases to 15 percent for 2023 and 2024 in most cases.

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