Thousands of Jackson County property owners now part of class action lawsuit related to 2023 assessments

KSHB 41 reporter Charlie Keegan covers politics in Kansas, Missouri and at the local level. Share your story idea with Charlie.

KSHB 41 reporter Isabella Ledonne covers issues in Overland Park and Johnson County and around government accountability. Share your story with Isabella.

—

Roughly 200,000 property owners in Jackson County, Missouri, will begin receiving notifications Wednesday that they are part of a class action lawsuit related to the 2023 property assessment process.

A judge certified the class in the case Wheeler vs. Beatty earlier in the year.

The 2023 Jackson County property assessment significantly increased taxes for thousands of homeowners.

The suit, scheduled for trial in December, asks a judge to refund property owners for property taxes they overpaid in 2024 and fix their property’s assessed values. It's the latest attempt for some relief for homeowners.

“It’s important to follow the law, especially when we’re talking about taxes,” said Jonathan Soper, an attorney representing the class. “There’s process in the law for a reason, and it’s important to follow the law. It doesn’t matter whose yard sign you put in your yard; nobody should have to pay unlawful taxes.”

Audits, appeals, and orders from the Missouri State Tax Commission have pointed out flaws in the county’s 2023 assessment process. The increases in valuations are part of the reason citizens recalled County Executive Frank White in 2025.

Michael McIntosh, reverend at the I CAN Ministry in Kansas City, was one of the thousands who got sticker shock from his 2023 property assessment. He explained he saw a 100% increase in his taxes.

"That put a strain on me because I've been used to paying a certain amount, so here I am at 75 years old trying to find ways that I can cover that new amount for my taxes," McIntosh said. "Just dumping those price hikes on people, I think that was very unfair. I think it was putting a stake in people's hearts."

Like many, McIntosh has been wondering whether he would ever see his property tax dollars come back in the form of some relief.

"The numbers going down will certainly make a difference in our lives," McIntosh said. "That just might ease up the sour taste I have in my mouth with the tax people."

Humphrey, Farrington & McClain law firm is representing Jackson County homeowners in the class action lawsuit. Soper explained that Jackson County homeowners could be refunded for what they overpaid in 2024. Those potential refund amounts will vary depending on the assessed amount.

"We are seeking a declaration of the rights that were unlawful," Soper said. "This is an opt-out class, so if folks don't do anything, they will remain in the class and reap the benefits of a judgment."

Homeowners like Colleen Downing in Lee's Summit don't have to do anything for the class action lawsuit unless they want to opt out or get their own attorney.

"I think the class action suit, if we win it, just shows more justice and fairness in a system that was broken," Downing said. "I hope it works out for me and everyone else, especially seniors."

The county legislature appointed Phil LeVota as county executive. In November, he announced plans to credit property owners over three years (2026, 2027 and 2028) for taxes they overpaid based on the 2023 assessment.

LeVota doesn’t believe there is a need for the lawsuit, since he has created policies that essentially mirror what the lawsuit wants. The county legislature is considering codifying those policies in law.

“My decision to give tax credits over three years is to take the burden off the school districts, off my own budget of returning that money and devastating county budgets, school budgets, city budgets,” LeVota said. "If they just say give a refund, we don't have that money. That money was paid out before, and we'd have to go to the school districts, the fire protection district, the library district, and say, give us that money back to give it directly to taxpayers."

Notices will come in the form of email and/or letters in the mail. The notices come from the law firm suing the county. They are not from the county.

The notices will direct you to a website run by the firm Humphrey, Farrington & McClain.

"That might mean new tires on my car, that might mean just a couple of visits to the vet because my dog is getting old," Downing said. "That isn't a whole lot of money for a lot of people, but for some of us it's everything."

You do not have to do anything when you receive the notice. You have the option to opt out of the lawsuit by July 10. You can also hire your own attorney to represent you in the class action lawsuit.

A trial is set for December.

—