Property Tax Relief

This portion of the Wichita Forward proposal sets aside funding to reduce pressure on property taxes, helping create more stability for homeowners, renters, and small businesses.

Rather than shifting the cost of major investments onto property owners alone, this approach uses sales tax revenue, shared by residents and visitors, to help manage long-term costs more responsibly.

Downtown cityscape with modern buildings, a large round-roofed arena, green park area with trees, pathways, and a metal sculpture in the foreground under a clear blue sky.

Funding

$150 million is dedicated specifically to property tax relief as part of the overall sales tax framework.

Why it matters

Without an alternative revenue source, large capital projects and essential services are often funded through higher property taxes. Those increases don’t just affect homeowners, they are frequently passed on to renters through higher rents and can strain small business owners.

Using sales tax revenue helps stabilize property taxes and avoid sudden increases. This creates greater predictability and security for:

Seniors living on fixed incomes
Renters facing rising housing costs
Small business owners managing tight margins
First-time homebuyers trying to enter the market

Key Facts

Sales tax revenue captures spending from visitors and non-residents, with estimates suggesting roughly 20–30% comes from people who do not live in Wichita.
Dedicating funds to property tax relief supports the City Council’s stated goal of limiting future property tax increases.
Keeping property taxes more stable helps slow rent increases, support local businesses, and lessen financial strain on families across the economic spectrum.