Wichita considers property tax relief for some lower-income residents. Here are details

The city of Wichita wants to establish its own Homestead Property Tax Relief Program if a 1% sales tax proposal is approved by voters on March 3.

The state already has such a program, which provides low-income residents with up to hundreds of dollars in property tax rebates each year.

The Wichita City Council will discuss establishing such a program when it meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

“The City is seeking to reduce the burden of property taxes for low-income property owners, particularly seniors, by providing reimbursements for a portion of property taxes paid,” the resolution to establish the program says.

Money for the city program would come from the city’s general fund and not from sales tax proceeds. City documents did not provide an estimate for how much the program would cost.

Those who participate in the state program and own a home in Wichita would also be able to apply for the city’s program, which could provide payments of up to 33% of the applicant’s state refund, according to city documents.

The state lists the following eligibility requirements for the program for 2025:

• You must have been a Kansas resident for all of 2024;
• You must have household income of $42,600 or less;
• You must have owned and occupied a home in Kansas during 2024; and
• Your house cannot be valued at more than $350,000

The state says applicants must also meet one of the following requirements:

• You must have been 55 years of age or older for the entire calendar year of 2024, which means you were born before January 1, 1969; OR
• You must have been blind or totally and permanently disabled all of 2024, regardless of your age; OR
• You must have a dependent child who lived with you the entire year who was born before January 1, 2024, and was under the age of 18 the entire calendar year of 2024; OR
• You must be a disabled veteran; OR
• You must be the surviving spouse of a deceased member of the armed forces who died in the line of duty during a period of active service. As a surviving spouse of a deceased member of the armed forces you are eligible to receive benefits until you remarry; OR
• You must be the surviving spouse of a disabled veteran. As a surviving spouse of a disabled member of the armed forces you are eligible to receive benefits until you remarry.

The city refund program would begin in 2027 and run until the end of 2034.

Council members also will consider Tuesday a $55 annual rebate for low-income residents to “reduce the burden of sales taxes paid for food and grocery items by low-income residents” if the sales tax passes. Residents would have to meet certain guidelines and apply for the money.