Giant power pole, bigger tax bill? That doesn’t make sense, Sedgwick County

“You’ve got to be kidding.”

That’s how Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple reacted when he learned the appraised value of at least two properties in a northeast Wichita neighborhood actually increased in value after enormous metal power poles were erected in their yards.

You’ve got to be kidding. Unfortunately, though, this is no joke.

One of the properties — a modest little home at the corner of 11th and Green that has a towering power pole a few paces from its front door — jumped 40% in appraised value over the past year, as an article by Eagle reporter Chance Swaim revealed.

The owner of that property isn’t the only one facing a higher tax bill, of course. More than three-fourths of properties in Sedgwick County increased in appraised value this year — the result of “a stabilizing and growing economy . . . and a limited supply” of homes on the market, according to the interim Sedgwick County appraiser.

No doubt it appears to be a seller’s market — though recent layoffs at Spirit AeroSystems could alter that picture — and many area homes might command higher prices than in previous years.

But higher valuations for homes in the shadow of Evergy’s 105-foot-tall poles? That just doesn’t make sense.

The Sedgwick County appraiser has urged those homeowners to appeal their property valuations, acknowledging that the county failed to consider the giant metal poles when it came up with the new property values.

But it makes you wonder: If county appraisers could ignore enormous poles that sparked months upon months of community outrage, what else are they overlooking? Are Sedgwick County’s property tax assessments based on actual evidence and market conditions, or are they as fickle as the spring weather?

More than three-quarters of homeowners — 81% — saw an increase on their 2020 valuation notice. Only 3% of properties in the county decreased in value.

That disparity has fueled calls by some local politicians and others for an improved appraisal system and more transparency about how values are calculated.

It also has raised legitimate concerns about tax-rate rhetoric: Government agencies can claim they’re holding taxes steady by not increasing the mill levy, but high valuations will raise most residents’ tax bills anyway.

On the issue of eyesore power poles, Kansas lawmakers are making progress. A bill approved by the Kansas House would restrict the authority of Evergy and other utilities to string transmission lines through urban areas and would direct regulators to evaluate how pole projects affect neighborhood aesthetics.

On the issue of tax appraisals, property owners should look closely at their appraisal notices, compare them with what they think their homes are worth, and initiate an appeal if necessary.

The Sedgwick County Appraiser’s Office should correct glaring errors like the ones involving the power-pole yards and issue revised appraisals.

And state lawmakers should reevaluate the appraisal process, pledge accountability, and ensure that assessments reflect property values as accurately as possible.

No kidding.