Kansas
Kansas senator’s property tax plan ‘doesn’t work’
A proposal centered on replacing property taxes with sales tax revenue generated from a retail surcharge was met with skepticism during a Senate committee hearing.
A public hearing for Senate Bill 488, dubbed the “Kansas Property Tax Freedom Act of 2026,” produced muddled information on the actual legislation itself after the bill’s author — Sen. Michael Murphy, R-Sylvia, conceded that his plan “as written doesn’t work.”
Murphy on March 10 pinned blame for the lack of clarity on a software program that “assumed some things that it shouldn’t have assumed” when crunching numbers related to revenue estimates.
A fiscal note estimated abolishing property taxes would eliminate about $7.9 billion in state and local tax revenue in the first full year of implementation. Meanwhile, the increased sales tax intended to offset the property tax elimination would only raise about $1.5 billion, according to Kansas Department of Revenue estimates.
Murphy, whose district includes Hutchinson, told the committee he planned to press forward in his quest to bring “meaningful” property tax relief to Kansans. He added that he has “scenarios that will work,” while declining to elaborate.
“But that’s not for right now,” he said.
With a packed Statehouse audience serving as a backdrop, Murphy’s explanation came as a surprise to committee chair Sen. Caryn Tyson, R-Parker.
“You can’t drop a bombshell and say that ‘there’s other things that we could do without giving the committee your ideas,” Tyson said, as Murphy departed the lectern.
Under Murphy’s plan, the bill would cut property taxes by 50% in 2026 and 75% in 2027 by placing caps on mill levies. By 2028, property taxes would be fully eliminated and replaced with surcharge fees on retail purchases as established by the “Fair Share Purchase Surcharge.” The plan would ultimately need to be approved by voters via a constitutional amendment.
A flat surcharge fee of $1.60 would be applied to purchases of $20 or more. For transactions less than $20, a surcharge of 7.6% of the purchase price is assessed. An exemption carveout would apply to SNAP-eligible grocery items, prescription medications, medical devices, motor fuel, mortgage payments, utility services and K-12 tuition.
Lawmakers leave door ajar for SB 488
Lawmakers said they are still open to hearing more about Murphy’s plan if he can come up with revenue estimates related to the surcharge fees. Specifically, they need to know if the lost property tax revenue is being adequately replaced.
“The data was not there,” Tyson told The Capital-Journal, adding, “It’s a conversation we absolutely should look at.” Sen. Jeff Klemp, R-Lansing, told Murphy that his proposal is “not ready for prime time,” but appreciated the effort.
It doesn’t appear as though Murphy’s plan is viewed by lawmakers as a serious contender, as Tyson said she’s laser-focused on other tax relief packages.
- The Senate on Feb. 25 passed SCR 1616, a proposed constitutional amendment to cap appraisal growth. It is similar to a plan the Senate passed last year that was rejected by the House.
- The House on Feb. 26 passed HB 2745, a bill that would restrict local governments from spending above a cap and allow protest petitions to block higher taxes. It is somewhat similar to a plan the House passed last year that stalled in the Senate.
Kansas lawmakers from both parties used the promise of property tax relief as a primary campaign platform during the 2024 election cycle, but continue to come up empty on the pledge.
Tyson is now sounding the alarm.
“We need to get those passed into legislation,” Tyson said of SCR 1616 and HB 2745. “If we don’t, we will go home another year, and property taxpayers in Kansas will not see relief.”
Lawmakers, stakeholders debate Murphy’s proposal
David Trabert, CEO of the Kansas Policy Institute, provided neutral testimony while also dismissing the legislation as beyond repairable this session. Trabert asserted that the data used to determine the surcharge fees doesn’t exist.
“You need to know how many transactions take place in order to back into those numbers,” he said. “And the Department of Revenue doesn’t have it.”
Trabert also discussed an aspect of the bill involving the distribution of revenue derived from the surcharge fees. According to Murphy’s blueprint, 48% would be earmarked for school districts, and 35% would go to local taxing entities.
Trabert contended that the distribution is problematic because it’s greater than what school districts are currently receiving by around 3%, while cities and counties would be receiving a drastically reduced slice of the revenue pie.
“The distribution to cities and counties of 35% is 20 points below what they’re actually getting,” he said. “So you would be dramatically underfunding city government.”
Trabert also noted that the bill would force lawmakers to devise a “completely new school finance system because property tax is baked into it.”
Sen. Tim Shallenburger, R-Baxter Springs, suggested that the surcharge fees needed to be “a little fairer.”
“It seems to be higher on the smaller purchases, so we could probably put another tier in there,” he said. “But I think people prefer sales tax to property tax.”
Rep. Adam Smith, R-Weskan, said he’s studied the plan, and all roads lead to “the math.”
“Is the surcharge adequate to replace the local property tax revenue?” asked Smith, who chairs the House tax committee. “And if it only brings in half of what we need, what does that mean for cities, schools, and local entities that rely on property tax?”
Former Republican Rep. Carrie Barth testified in support of SB 488, saying “people are being taxed out of their homes.” Property tax, Barth said, is the top issue in a state “that is not very affordable — for both businesses, as well as people who own homes and property.”
Tyson postponed a corresponding hearing for SCR 1621, which could have set the stage for a constitutional amendment prohibiting state and local taxing entities from levying property taxes.
Matt Resnick can be reached at mattres2121@gmail.com.
The Oklahoma Sooners are heading back to Omaha for the College World Series for the first time since 2022 after OU swept Kansas in the super regionals. Oklahoma outscored the Jayhawks 21-3 in the two games that took three days to play due to a rain delay on Sunday.
The Sooners head to Omaha as one of the hottest teams in college baseball after knocking off Georgia Tech in the regionals and sweeping Kansas to punch their ticket to Omaha.
Oklahoma hit seven home runs in the two games against Kansas, and on Sunday and Monday, the Sooners pitching staff limited the Jayhawks lineup to just four runs.
The Sooners are one of five SEC teams heading to Omaha, joining Alabama, Texas, Ole Miss, and Georgia. The Sooners will open College World Series play against Alabama on Saturday. But before we get to that, here’s how social media reacted to the Sooners series clinching win.
On Fire
Hot heading to Omaha
Rocked Em
Dangerous Team
Where they belong
Here we go!
What a performance
The moment
The Celly
Heading to Omaha
Truly Special
The Field
Go win it all
They have what it takes
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
Collin Klein and the K-State coaching staff made a major statement on the recruiting trail over the weekend. Cooper Ohnmacht, a four-star recruit and the top-ranked player in Kansas in the 2027 recruiting class, committed to K-State on Sunday. The Wildcats defeated Penn State, Wisconsin and several other power four programs in securing the services of Ohnmacht.
The Great Bend, Kan., native is ranked as the No. 304 player nationally and the 10th-best athlete in the country in the 2027 class, according to the Rivals industry consensus rankings, which incorporates the evaluations of the three major recruiting services nationally.
Ohnmacht is a big-time athlete who has excelled at both safety and wide receiver while also earning major accolades in track and field. The 6-0, 185-pounder, recorded 52 receptions for 755 yards as a junior to lead his team, which also featured national recruit in tight end Ian Premer, who has signed with Notre Dame. Ohnmacht, who is projected to play safety at K-State, had 57 tackles along with five interceptions during the 2025 season.
Ohnmacht is also a two-time state champion in the triple jump in Class 5A. His triple jump of 48-3 as a sophomore was the best all-class jump during the 2025 track season by seven inches, according to Catch it Kansas. He placed 14th in the triple jump at the Nike Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., in 2025.
The commitment of Ohnmacht marks the third time the Wildcats have landed the state’s No. 1 recruit since 2023. Avery Johnson’s decision to sign with K-State in 2023 ended an 18-year drought of the top player in Kansas going elsewhere. Offensive tackle Gus Hawkins, a top-200 player nationally from Mill Valley in the 2024 class, made it back-to-back years the No. 1 player in the state elected to continue their career in Manhattan. The Wildcats landed another national recruit in 2025 when Linkon Cure, a top-50 recruit in the country, chose K-State over Oregon and others. However, the Goodland, Kan., native was the second-ranked player in the state behind Andrew Babalola, who signed with Michigan.
K-State also earned the commitment of Correll Buckhalter Jr. on Sunday. The Texas native is the son of former Nebraska running back and NFL veteran Correll Buckhalter. He is ranked as the No. 742 player nationally and a top 100 prospect in Texas for the 2027 class.
Klein and his staff have now secured 17 commitments in the 2027 class, which is ranked 40th nationally and fourth-best in the Big 12, per the Rivals industry consensus rankings.
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – One man is dead and another is in critical condition after a shooting overnight on Westport Rd., police say.
The Kansas City Police Department said it responded to the area of Mercier and Westport Rd. just before 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, after reports of a shooting.
Officers indicated that they entered a nearby business and found two men unresponsive. They began rendering medical aid until EMS arrived.
First responders reported that one man was taken to a nearby hospital with critical injuries. The other was pronounced dead at the scene.
Homicide detectives noted that they began to gather evidence and collect witness statements. As of Sunday morning, police do not know what led to the shooting and no one is in custody.
Anyone with information is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.
Copyright 2026 KCTV. All rights reserved.
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