Kansas Legislature discusses constitutional amendment that could eliminate property and income taxes

TOPEKA (KSNT) — Kansas lawmakers are discussing a constitutional amendment that aims to eliminate vehicle, property, and even income taxes here in Kansas.

During Wednesdays legislative committee meeting on taxation, Kansas lawmakers heard from Representative Blake Carpenter, who presented a bold idea to the legislature. He believes that raising sales taxes, as well as eliminating some tax exemptions here in Kansas, could allow the state to completely eliminate taxes that are hurting Kansas residents.

Carpenter says his plan will allow the state to remove taxes on vehicles in 6 years, property taxes in 13 years, and eventually income taxes in about 40 years. However, some lawmakers have raised concerns about the plan. As the amendment is currently drafted, a board consisting of non-elected officials would decide which tax exemptions to eliminate.

Some lawmakers are skeptical of this, stating that this takes power away from the legislative branch. Others are also worried that sales tax increases could be too detrimental to Kansans in the short term.

Katherine Loughead, a policy analyzer from Washington D.C, tells us the plan needs some refining.

"It would take a long time to eliminate taxes all together, and all the while Kansans would be paying a lot more in sales taxes than they do now, with the hopeful goal of eliminating taxes," said Loughead. "However, there's always potential that the constitution would be reamended to get rid of this whole idea, and then what happens?"

If the proposed amendment passes through the legislature, Kansas residents would vote on it before it is officially enacted.

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