While the State Tax Commission is directing the Saline County Assessor’s office to increase property assessments by 15 to 22 percent, tax revenues may not increase as dramatically.

That’s because the Hancock Amendment, passed by voters in 1980, limits how much additional revenue a county, city, or school district can collect compared to the previous year. Marshall Public Schools Supt. Caleb Petet says while the district won’t know until late this summer how much additional revenue could result from higher assessments, the state constitution could potentially cap that increase.

Petet says if potential revenues exceed one of the limits set by the Hancock Amendment, Marshall and other polities in the county may be required to roll back their operating levy rates.

The State Tax Commission last directed Saline County to raise assessments in 2021, contributing to a reduction in Marshall Schools’ tax rate by 36.84 cents per 100 dollars of assessed value. District patrons passed a 99-cent levy increase in April 2023 to fund construction of the new intermediate school and additional projects at the Northeast Campus. Last August, Marshall set this year’s rate at $3.8280.