MARYVILLE, Mo. — County officials in northwest Missouri are expressing concern over a controversial property tax cap provision included in a bill passed during the recent special session of the Missouri Legislature.
While the session was originally convened to pass legislation aimed at keeping the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals in Missouri and providing disaster aid for storm-ravaged areas around St. Louis, the final bill also included a statewide property tax reform provision.
If approved by voters, the law would allow:
- 22 counties to be prohibited from raising base property tax bills.
- 75 counties, including Nodaway County, to be restricted from increasing property taxes more than 5% annually or the Consumer Price Index (CPI)—whichever is higher.
Nodaway County Commissioner Scott Walk says while his county doesn’t rely heavily on property taxes, essential rural services could be at risk if the cap takes effect.
Walk emphasized that around 70% of property taxes in Nodaway County go directly to local schools, with the remainder often supporting senior centers and volunteer fire departments.
Though the bill includes exemptions for new voter-approved levies and property improvements, Walk worries the growth limits could hinder the ability of rural entities to adjust to inflation and rising operational costs.
He also voiced frustration that the provision was added with little input from local officials, including from State Senator Rusty Black, who supported the bill.
Critics also question the constitutionality of the cap, arguing that it violates the Missouri Constitution’s requirement for uniform taxation across the same class of property.
The legislation mandates that counties must place the tax cap proposal on the ballot no later than April 2026. As that deadline approaches, local officials like Walk are hoping for a broader conversation on the long-term impact to rural Missouri’s core services.