County appraiser: valuations rose since COVID and office now near state compliance
March 02, 2026 | Linn County, Kansas
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Lisa Kelsey, the county appraiser, told the Linn County Commission that Linn County's market valuations have climbed in the five years since the COVID market shift and that the appraiser's office has returned to state compliance.
"We're appraising at about 92%," Kelsey said, citing a recent email from Bob Kent, director with the state Division of Property Valuation (PVD), and noting the PVD notices were expected to be sent March 13. She told commissioners the office had been as low as about 84% in earlier years and had reached roughly 94% the prior year before the most recent adjustment.
Kelsey said the rise in valuations has not translated to the county collecting more itself because Linn County is revenue neutral; rather, the change in property-tax bills often reflects decisions by other taxing districts, such as school districts, libraries or cemetery districts. She pointed to examples including lake lots that have appreciated significantly in recent years and said the appraiser's role is to set market value within the statutory range.
Commissioners pressed for comparative data showing how adjoining counties performed on appraisal ratios so they could assess claims that Linn County's increases outpaced neighbors. Kelsey said she would ask the state for comparative appraisal percentages once PVD releases them.
Kelsey also summarized how the state measures compliance: appraisals are expected to fall within the roughly 90% to 110% range of market value. She said the county had been below that target in past years but that state feedback indicates the office is meeting standards now. "If market goes up, we go up," she said, describing adjustments made after a prior review by the state.
The presentation ended with commissioners asking staff to share the state's comparative figures when available so the board can respond to public concerns over whether local increases were county-driven or the result of other taxing entities' budget choices.
The commission took no direct action beyond receiving the report and asking Kelsey to seek the state comparison data.
"We're appraising at about 92%," Kelsey said, citing a recent email from Bob Kent, director with the state Division of Property Valuation (PVD), and noting the PVD notices were expected to be sent March 13. She told commissioners the office had been as low as about 84% in earlier years and had reached roughly 94% the prior year before the most recent adjustment.
Kelsey said the rise in valuations has not translated to the county collecting more itself because Linn County is revenue neutral; rather, the change in property-tax bills often reflects decisions by other taxing districts, such as school districts, libraries or cemetery districts. She pointed to examples including lake lots that have appreciated significantly in recent years and said the appraiser's role is to set market value within the statutory range.
Commissioners pressed for comparative data showing how adjoining counties performed on appraisal ratios so they could assess claims that Linn County's increases outpaced neighbors. Kelsey said she would ask the state for comparative appraisal percentages once PVD releases them.
Kelsey also summarized how the state measures compliance: appraisals are expected to fall within the roughly 90% to 110% range of market value. She said the county had been below that target in past years but that state feedback indicates the office is meeting standards now. "If market goes up, we go up," she said, describing adjustments made after a prior review by the state.
The presentation ended with commissioners asking staff to share the state's comparative figures when available so the board can respond to public concerns over whether local increases were county-driven or the result of other taxing entities' budget choices.
The commission took no direct action beyond receiving the report and asking Kelsey to seek the state comparison data.
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