How Property Tax Works
Harvey County, Kansas operates under a property tax system that funds essential local services including public schools, county government operations, emergency services, and infrastructure maintenance. Property taxes are the primary revenue source for these services, with the county following Kansas state guidelines that include revenue neutral rate protections to limit excessive tax increases without public approval.
The effective property tax rate in Harvey County typically ranges around 1% of assessed value, though actual rates vary significantly by location within the county due to special taxing districts. These districts may include school districts, fire districts, townships, municipalities, and other local service areas that add their own levies to the base county rate. Property owners should expect different tax burdens depending on their specific location and the combination of taxing jurisdictions that serve their property.
The county assesses property at 11.5% of fair market value for residential properties, following Kansas state assessment guidelines. This assessed value then serves as the basis for applying the various tax rates levied by different governmental entities within Harvey County.