Missouri Audit Calls Jackson County Assessments a Catastrophic Failure

Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick released a final audit on Friday rating Jackson County's assessment department as poor and labeling the county's 2023 property assessment process a "catastrophic failure." The audit examined notification letters sent to homeowners, the conduct of property inspections, and the way the county handled appeals of assessed values.

Greg Walters, a Raystown resident who has lived in his neighborhood for more than 40 years, said his home's assessed value rose by $30,000 during that reassessment. He said he was able to get his property taxes rolled back down but argued the county still has to change how homeowners challenge their numbers.

The audit identified problems in three areas: how homeowners were notified, how properties were inspected, and how assessment appeals were handled. Walters said those findings did not surprise him. "No, I'm not surprised they're have been some bad people up there. One was recalled," he said.

Walters raised a specific concern about who decides the outcome of an appeal. He said representatives of the city of Raytown, the school district and the fire district sit in judgment of property values while also collecting the resulting tax revenue. "You know who sits the judgement on you? The city of Raytown, the school district, the fire district, anybody who has some of the money going to them," he said. "And that's unfair because they get to sit in judgement and all you can do is ask."

The county is scheduled to run its next property reassessment in 2027. Walters said responsibility for fixing the process rests with county leadership and the elected officials who oversee it. "The legislature, the elected officials, they're the ones we elect directly, and if they choose poorly on who they have doing work for them, then they should take the blame and they should take the hit," he said.

Walters said homeowners deserve a process that is transparent and fair. He has lived in his neighborhood for more than 40 years and described it as a community where people maintain their properties and stay because the homes are large ranch-style houses.