Property values will be higher this year for most homes and businesses in Sedgwick County, while agricultural land will be going down in value.

That’s according to the annual report from County Appraiser Mark Clark.  He presented a breakdown to County Commissioners on Wednesday, saying that a strong real estate market and other factors have driven up the value of many properties across Sedgwick County.

Clark said 60 percent of residential properties in the county will be increasing in value, with a typical increase of eight percent.   One percent of residential properties will be lower in value, with the typical change around four percent.  39 percent of residential properties will have no change in value.

For commercial properties, 67 percent will increase in value this year with the typical change at ten percent.  Seven percent of commercial properties will be lower with a typical change of 13 percent.   Clark said 26 percent of commercial properties will have no change.

For agricultural property, 64 percent will be lower in value with the typical change at 18 percent.   Sixteen percent of agricultural properties will be higher with a typical change of four percent.  Twenty percent of agricultural properties will have no change.

The Appraiser’s Office will mail the value notices on March 1st, and Clark said they will only be mailed to property owners who are seeing a change.   About 147,750 real property value notices will be mailed this year, representing 63 percent of all properties in Sedgwick County.    Anyone who doesn’t receive a notice can check their property value through the Appraiser’s page on the county web site at sedgwickcounty.org.    Property owners who want to protest their valuation should fill out the back of the notice and return it to the Appraiser’s Office within 30 days of the date of the notice.   They can also go to the Smart File portal on the Appraiser’s Office page.    Appeal meetings will begin March 19th and they will be conducted by phone.

Clark is calling attention to the Homestead, SAFESR, and the Senior or Disabled Veteran property tax refund programs.   He is urging people to check to see if they are eligible, and with the legislature expanding the programs there may be more people eligible this year.  Property owners will have a deadline of April 15th to file for these programs.   Clark said the county clerk’s office can provide information to help people in applying for these programs.