City Property Tax Honesty Gap
The difference between the actual tax increase and the change in the mill rate has created an honesty gap in taxpayers’ minds. For example, Andover raised property taxes by 858% between 1997 and 2020 but the county mill rate went up 44%. The 814-point difference is the honesty gap. Data provided by the Kansas Department of Revenue. Percentages rounded to zero decimals.
| City | 1997-2022 Tax Change | 1997-2022 Mill Rate Change | 1997-2022 Honesty Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andover | 858.45 | 44.22 | 814.23 |
| Arkansas City | 124.15 | 7.11 | 117.04 |
| Atchison | 118.70 | -5.67 | 124.37 |
| Augusta | 312.37 | 73.65 | 238.72 |
| Chanute | 209.74 | 59.08 | 150.67 |
| Coffeyville | 101.62 | 25.81 | 75.80 |
| De Soto | 786.34 | -11.10 | 797.44 |
| Derby | 346.82 | 17.88 | 328.94 |
| Dodge City | 102.57 | 7.04 | 95.53 |
| El Dorado | 216.79 | 38.60 | 178.19 |
| Emporia | 152.28 | 25.75 | 126.53 |
| Fort Scott | 117.72 | 22.74 | 94.98 |
| Garden City | 241.10 | 30.09 | 211.01 |
| Gardner | 742.23 | -22.59 | 764.83 |
| Great Bend | 98.71 | 6.68 | 92.03 |
| Hays | 103.18 | -20.71 | 123.89 |
| Haysville | 239.63 | 6.80 | 232.82 |
| Hutchinson | 119.64 | 7.71 | 111.93 |
| Independence | 71.30 | 35.61 | 35.69 |
| Junction City | 153.10 | -7.11 | 160.21 |
| Kansas City | 62.19 | -34.16 | 96.35 |
| Lansing | 513.06 | 52.13 | 460.92 |
| Lawrence | 355.39 | 46.48 | 308.91 |
| Leavenworth | 44.01 | -36.44 | 80.44 |
| Leawood | 284.17 | 2.54 | 281.63 |
| Lenexa | 248.24 | 13.49 | 234.75 |
| Liberal | 199.32 | 90.79 | 108.53 |
| Manhattan | 338.70 | 24.98 | 313.73 |
| McPherson | 151.18 | 18.54 | 132.63 |
| Merriam | 241.25 | 39.09 | 202.16 |
| Mission | 649.70 | 219.68 | 430.02 |
| Newton | 179.66 | 34.91 | 144.75 |
| Olathe | 372.98 | -3.04 | 376.02 |
| Ottawa | 211.76 | 3.57 | 208.19 |
| Overland Park | 410.79 | 56.70 | 354.09 |
| Parsons | 125.69 | 41.50 | 84.19 |
| Pittsburg | 165.74 | 33.45 | 132.30 |
| Prairie Village | 244.81 | 11.78 | 233.04 |
| Pratt | 209.22 | 58.52 | 150.70 |
| Roeland Park | 275.00 | 19.63 | 255.36 |
| Salina | 151.44 | 18.04 | 133.40 |
| Shawnee | 359.56 | 5.38 | 354.18 |
| Spring Hill | 6,790.64 | -6.54 | 6,797.18 |
| Topeka | 137.10 | 19.56 | 117.55 |
| Wellington | 108.34 | 29.37 | 78.97 |
| Wichita | 177.84 | 5.38 | 172.46 |
| Winfield | 89.57 | 12.82 | 76.74 |
| City |