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Thank you for being part of our Survivor and Supporter Network. Your continued support, advocacy, and compassion mean so much as we work together to protect children and empower survivors across Kansas.
We would like to give you and update on our legislative work and how you can help:
Erin's Law SB 385/HB 2576: requiring that all K–12 students receive age-appropriate body safety and child sexual abuse prevention education. The law will also require teachers to do a yearly training specific to child sexual abuse in spotting warning signs and reporting abuse.
The bill had a hearing in the House Education Committee but the House decided not to work the bill this session. We would like to thank all of the survivors and supporters who testified in support of this bill.
Unfortunately, the Children's Advocacy Centers of Kansas and one of the CACs changed their testimony before the hearing and testified neutral rather than as a proponent. A concern was brought up that they felt only CACs should be presenting body safety education to children using an accredited curriculum (very few curriculums are able to make it through an accreditation process due to time and financial constraints, but there are numerous "evidence based" or "researched informed" curricula available. We were not prepared for this and were not able to change our testimony in time to counter these arguments or be able to work previously discussed amendments to strengthen the bill.
We continued to meet with legislators and various community agencies to come up with solutions and have drafted a new version of Erin's Law with amendments that we hope will satisfy concerns that were mentioned. Please let us know if you would like a copy. We are so thankful to community agencies who have spoken up and shared the work that their programs do and how there are agencies that are willing and able to train presenters who would present body safety training to students in communities that do not have access to a CAC or other established program.
SB 385 is alive in the Senate thanks to Senate President Ty Masterson who "blessed" the bill and gave it more time to have a hearing. We were told today that it is likely that there will be a hearing in the Senate. The bill is currently in the Ways and Means Committee but may be transferred back to Senate Education.
Please start writing proponent testimony for SB 385 now. We are often given very little notice when a hearing will be and it is important to be prepared.
Survivor's Rights Bill SB 236: allowing survivors of substantiated abuse to access their own DCF (Department for Children and Families) records. This bill was introduced last year in the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee. We are told that it will not get a hearing this session, but that it is likely we can get one next year if we submit the bill ourselves.
Your voice and involvement make a difference! Here's how you can help:
Continue sharing our social media posts advocating for these bills.
Join us at public outreach events to spread awareness.
Contact your state legislators, leadership, important committee members, and leadership and ask them to support Erin's Law (SB 385). (See below how and who to contact)
We are calling on child welfare professionals, educators, school leaders, counselors, medical providers, mental health professionals, and law enforcement across Kansas to show their support of Erin's Law. We are looking for these professionals to write testimony in support of Erin's Law. Please share with anyone you know that may be able to help.
We are also looking to gain information about how/if body safety is currently being taught in Kansas schools. Please contact us if you know how your local school district handles this and/or if you would be willing to contact your local school district to help obtain this information. Example: My children currently attend school in the DeSoto School District in Johnson County and they are given a presentation by Sunflower House Child Advocacy Center twice in elementary school in an assembly type presentation.
Be sure to keep an eye out on our Facebook and Instagram pages. That is the best way to get the most up to date information on our status for Erin's Law.
We will keep you updated about future events and opportunities to get involved. If you know of a group or event where we can speak or host a table to share information about these bills, please let us know!
Together, we're building a safer future for children and ensuring survivors' voices are heard. Thank you for standing with us and continuing to be part of this movement.
Thank you,
How to contact your personal State Legislators:
1. Enter your address at https://pluralpolicy.com/find-your-legislator/ to learn who your state legislators are and ask for their support and for a hearing for Erin's Law (SB 385).
2. Send a brief email letting them know you are a constituent and ask for their support.
3. Contact members of leadership and the Senate Education and Ways and Means Committee (see below) and ask them to support Erin's Law and grant a hearing for the bill.
Sample Email for your personal legislators:
"Hello my name is _________ and I am one of your constituents in __city___ Kansas. I would like to ask for your support for Erin's Law, SB 385, which requires students K-12 to be taught about body safety and child sexual abuse prevention once a year. The law would also require teachers to receive training specific to spotting warning signs of child sexual abuse and how to report.
This bill is important to me because _______________________.
Please support Erin's Law so that we can protect children and support survivors."
Sample Email to Leadership and Committee Members:
"Hello my name is _________ and I am a Kansas resident. I would like to ask for your support for Erin's Law, SB 385, which requires students K-12 to be taught about body safety and child sexual abuse prevention once a year. The law would also require teachers to receive training specific to spotting warning signs of child sexual abuse and how to report.
This bill is important to me because _______________________.
Please support Erin's Law so that we can protect children and support survivors."
Senate Education Committee:
Senate Ways and Means Committee:
Senate Leadership:
House Education Committee:
House Leadership:
Request received. Thank you
From: Henry McClure <mcre13@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2026 2:12 PM
To: City Clerk <cclerk@topeka.org>
Subject: financial statements "KORA"
| Notice: -----This message was sent by an external sender----- |
KORA
Can I get a copy of the City of Topeka financial statements
Thanks
H
Kansas offers a refreshing alternative to the high-pressure, high-cost lifestyles of coastal states like New York and California. With its wide-open spaces, strong sense of community, and remarkably low cost of living, the Sunflower State provides a high quality of life without breaking the bank. For many, moving to Kansas means gaining more home, more land, and more financial breathing room—benefits vividly illustrated by properties like the stunning custom ranch at **3501 SW Welton Grove Circle** in Topeka.
This exceptional 5-bedroom, 3.5-bath home spans nearly 3,949 square feet of finished space on a private 6.77-acre wooded lot. Built in 2013, it features high-end details such as hardwood flooring, granite countertops, a spacious open-concept kitchen with custom cabinetry and a secondary prep area, a luxurious primary suite with vaulted ceilings and spa-like bath, a finished lower level, a composite deck overlooking the woods, and even a detached outbuilding/shop. It backs onto Welton Grove Park—a 47-acre natural area with trails, creeks, and green space—for ultimate privacy and outdoor access. Listed at **$729,900**, it's in the desirable Washburn Rural School District and offers cul-de-sac tranquility in the Ardmore Walk subdivision.
What makes this property stand out even more is how it stacks up against comparable homes elsewhere. In Topeka, the median home price hovers around $175,000–$205,000 (with averages near $184,000), making this premium, acreage-backed custom build a standout value in its local market. Yet when compared nationally:
- New York state's median home prices sit around $500,000–$600,000, with New York City listings often exceeding $649,000 for median properties—and many desirable areas pushing well into seven figures.
- In California, the statewide median is roughly $780,000–$900,000, with hotspots like Los Angeles averaging over $900,000–$1 million and San Francisco nearing $1.2–$1.3 million.
For the price of this expansive Kansas retreat—with its multiple living areas, high-end finishes, massive lot, and park-like setting—you might only afford a modest condo, small townhome, or fixer-upper in major coastal markets. The savings extend far beyond the purchase price: Kansas boasts one of the lowest costs of living in the U.S., often 10–15% below the national average (and in Topeka specifically, about 14% lower). Housing, groceries, utilities, and transportation all cost significantly less, freeing up income for travel, savings, or enjoying life.
Beyond affordability, Kansas delivers a relaxed, family-oriented lifestyle. Residents enjoy short commutes (often under 20 minutes), friendly neighborhoods, excellent schools in areas like Washburn Rural, and endless outdoor opportunities—from hiking local trails to exploring the state's prairies and parks. The four distinct seasons bring variety without extremes, and the strong community spirit fosters real connections.
In an era when many feel squeezed by skyrocketing coastal costs, Kansas stands out as a place where you can truly live large on a reasonable budget. A home like 3501 SW Welton Grove Circle isn't just a property—it's proof that great value, privacy, luxury, and peace of mind are still very much attainable in the heartland. If you're seeking more space, lower stress, and better financial freedom, Kansas might just be the upgrade you've been looking for.
Kansas county appraisers, across the state, establish a so-called "fair market value" for properties that often rests on a false foundation disconnected from true market dynamics. In reality, the only legitimate way to determine market value is through actual arm's-length transactions—what a willing buyer is prepared to pay and a willing seller is prepared to accept under open-market conditions, free of compulsion. All other methods, including mass appraisal models, cost approaches, or adjustments to comparable sales, amount to little more than sophistry when they diverge from this fundamental principle of real buyer-seller agreement.
This principle is particularly relevant in Kansas, where recent data from the Kansas Department of Revenue reveals stark discrepancies in how property values are appraised versus how the actual housing market has performed. Between 2021 and 2025, the state's county appraisers reported changes in existing residential property values that averaged a 37% increase statewide. This figure, derived from official statistics, masks significant variability: the median change was also 37%, but individual counties saw hikes ranging from a low of 13% in Greeley County to a staggering 91% in Linn County. Fourteen counties experienced increases exceeding 50%, while twelve saw changes below 20%. Such wide swings suggest an inconsistent application of valuation methods, potentially burdening homeowners unevenly and raising questions about the accuracy of these assessments.
To put these appraised changes into perspective, consider the actual market performance of Kansas homes over the same period. Data from real estate tracking sources indicate that median home sale prices in the state rose from approximately $205,000 in 2021 to $264,100 in 2025, representing a cumulative increase of about 29%. In the Kansas City area, which encompasses a significant portion of the state's population, house price indices show a similar trajectory, with annual appreciations compounding to roughly 31% from 2021 to 2025. Statewide trends align with this, as Redfin reports ongoing but moderated growth, with January 2026 prices up 6.4% year-over-year from 2025 levels, building on prior years' gains. These market-driven figures are notably lower than the 37% average appraisal increase, indicating that county assessments may be outpacing real-world transactions.
Nationally, the U.S. housing market saw a comparable but slightly higher cumulative price growth of around 37% from early 2021 to early 2025, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency's House Price Index. However, Kansas-specific data consistently points to more restrained actual appreciation, underscoring a potential overvaluation in appraisals. This gap isn't just numerical—it's rooted in methodology. Kansas county appraisers often rely on a mix of approaches, including the cost method (estimating rebuild expenses) and mass appraisals, which can inflate values during periods of rising construction costs or when comparable sales data is sparse. Critics argue this deviates from pure market evidence, leading to flawed outcomes. For instance, public sentiment in online forums and legislative hearings highlights frustrations with the "regressive" nature of property taxes, flawed appeal processes, and suspicions of value manipulation. Even official actions, like the state's 2025 order for independent reappraisals in Sedgwick County due to non-compliance with market standards, reveal systemic issues in achieving accurate valuations.
The implications for Kansas homeowners are profound. In counties like Brown (71% increase) or Cheyenne (83%), residents may face tax bills inflated beyond what the market justifies, straining budgets in rural areas where income growth hasn't kept pace. Conversely, lower changes in places like Morton (15%) or Sheridan (16%) might under-assess properties, shifting the tax load elsewhere. Shawnee County, home to the state capital of Topeka, saw a 38% rise—close to the statewide average but still above documented market gains. Overall, this suggests Kansas appraisals are off by an average of about 8 percentage points compared to actual sales data, with extremes amplifying the disconnect.
To bridge this gap, reforms could emphasize stricter adherence to arm's-length transaction data, perhaps mandating more frequent market validations or caps on annual valuation swings, as supported by 75% of Kansans in recent polls. Until then, the current system risks perpetuating inequities, reminding us that true market value isn't decreed by appraisers—it's forged in the marketplace. Homeowners should scrutinize their notices, appeal when discrepancies arise, and advocate for transparency to ensure assessments reflect reality, not sophistry.
Kansas county appraisers, across the state, establish a so-called "fair market value" for properties that often rests on a false foundation disconnected from true market dynamics. In reality, the only legitimate way to determine market value is through actual arm's-length transactions—what a willing buyer is prepared to pay and a willing seller is prepared to accept under open-market conditions, free of compulsion. All other methods, including mass appraisal models, cost approaches, or adjustments to comparable sales, amount to little more than sophistry when they diverge from this fundamental principle of real buyer-seller agreement.
Recent data from the Kansas Department of Revenue highlights how far these appraised values have strayed from actual market reality. Between 2021 and 2025, appraisers reported dramatic increases in existing residential property values across Kansas counties, with a statewide average change of approximately 37%. This figure, based on official assessments excluding new construction, shows wide variation: some counties saw modest rises around 13-18%, while others experienced extreme hikes exceeding 80-90%. These appraised changes significantly outpace the actual appreciation in home sale prices observed in the market.
For context, statewide median home sale prices rose from roughly $205,000 in 2021 to about $264,100 by 2025, reflecting a cumulative increase of around 29%. In key areas like the Kansas City region (including parts of Kansas), appreciation compounded to roughly 30-35% over the period, with more recent 2025 data showing moderated annual gains of 5-9%. Even broader house price indices for Kansas indicate restrained growth compared to the assessed valuation spikes, suggesting that county appraisers' models—often blending cost estimates, limited comparables, and other non-transactional factors—have inflated values beyond what willing buyers and sellers have actually agreed upon in the open market.
The table below lists the percentage changes in existing residential property values from 2021 to 2025, as reported by the Kansas Department of Revenue:
| County | Change | County | Change | County | Change |
|-----------------|--------|-----------------|--------|-----------------|--------|
| Allen | 42% | Greeley | 13% | Osborne | 60% |
| Anderson | 63% | Greenwood | 27% | Ottawa | 46% |
| Atchison | 54% | Hamilton | 37% | Pawnee | 45% |
| Barber | 17% | Harper | 50% | Phillips | 40% |
| Barton | 50% | Harvey | 37% | Pottawatomie | 29% |
| Bourbon | 27% | Haskell | 31% | Pratt | 31% |
| Brown | 71% | Hodgeman | 37% | Rawlins | 28% |
| Butler | 42% | Jackson | 34% | Reno | 36% |
| Chase | 27% | Jefferson | 52% | Republic | 34% |
| Chautauqua | 18% | Jewell | 48% | Rice | 42% |
| Cherokee | 49% | Johnson | 40% | Riley | 29% |
| Cheyenne | 83% | Kearny | 36% | Rooks | 46% |
| Clark | 27% | Kingman | 38% | Rush | 43% |
| Clay | 33% | Kiowa | 15% | Russell | 54% |
| Cloud | 51% | Labette | 17% | Saline | 27% |
| Coffey | 48% | Lane | 47% | Scott | 50% |
| Comanche | 18% | Leavenworth | 38% | Sedgwick | 38% |
| Cowley | 51% | Lincoln | 57% | Seward | 22% |
| Crawford | 32% | Linn | 91% | Shawnee | 38% |
| Decatur | 45% | Logan | 29% | Sheridan | 16% |
| Dickinson | 28% | Lyon | 37% | Sherman | 37% |
| Doniphan | 16% | Marion | 41% | Smith | 54% |
| Douglas | 41% | Marshall | 35% | Stafford | 31% |
| Edwards | 17% | McPherson | 19% | Stanton | 23% |
| Elk | 29% | Meade | 28% | Stevens | 22% |
| Ellis | 33% | Miami | 48% | Sumner | 42% |
| Ellsworth | 32% | Mitchell | 37% | Thomas | 33% |
| Finney | 39% | Montgomery | 39% | Trego | 28% |
| Ford | 28% | Morris | 26% | Wabaunsee | 37% |
| Franklin | 48% | Morton | 15% | Wallace | 54% |
| Geary | 36% | Nemaha | 44% | Washington | 45% |
| Gove | 31% | Neosho | 21% | Wichita | 26% |
| Graham | 23% | Ness | 40% | Wilson | 26% |
| Grant | 25% | Norton | 17% | Woodson | 33% |
| Gray | 35% | Osage | 39% | Wyandotte | 66% |
This widespread over-appraisal—often by 8-10 percentage points or more on average, and far greater in high-change counties—creates unfair tax burdens, especially in rural areas where population and income growth lag behind. Counties like Linn (91%), Cheyenne (83%), and Brown (71%) illustrate extreme cases where assessed values have nearly doubled, far exceeding documented market sales trends.
The gap underscores a systemic issue: when appraisals rely on formulas detached from real transactions, they risk becoming arbitrary and burdensome. True market value emerges only from voluntary buyer-seller agreements in the open market—not from bureaucratic models. Kansas homeowners deserve assessments grounded in this reality, and reforms emphasizing transaction-based data, appeal transparency, and limits on valuation swings could help align the system with actual economic conditions. Until then, the disconnect persists, reminding us that market value isn't something appraisers declare—it's what the market proves.