By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Tax transparency is not cheap. In 2021, the Kansas Legislature passed revenue neutral laws that prompted notification to taxpayers of any taxing entity that planned to collect more in property taxes in the previous year. Barton County residents began seeing those notices in their mailboxes late last week.
For the upcoming 2026 year, the Barton County Clerk's office mailed out more than 19,000 pieces of mail pertaining to revenue neutral rates at a cost of $17,212. For some counties, like Sedgwick, the costs easily exceed $100,000. While the state reimburses counties for the costs, taxpayer dollars are still used to mail the notices. County clerks receive taxable information from all taxing entities in their county and submit that information to the state but otherwise have no responsibility on tax matters.
For a fifth consecutive year, Barton County as a taxing entity remains revenue neutral. That means all county office budgets will not require more property tax money than in the previous year.
Revenue-neutral notices received in the mail are not a guarantee of increased property taxes, but are merely an estimate of taxes bases on last year's mill levy and overall property valuations. The intent of the notices is to inform taxpayers of upcoming budget meetings for those taxing entities that are planning to collect more property tax dollars for their 2026 budgets versus what they collected for their 2025 budgets.
Citizens with questions or concerns are encouraged to reach out to each taxing entity listed on the notice, or attend the budget meeting listed in the notice.