The Saline County Commission approved a partial refund Wednesday, Mar. 25 to a taxpayer that the commission says overpaid taxes on real estate she owns in Blackburn.

Presiding Commissioner Becky Plattner brought the taxpayer’s request forward during her report at the commission’s regular session, stating that a house on the property had been torn down in 2021, but that the tax bills until 2025 did not reflect the demolition. Plattner said that the taxpayer was overcharged by $2040, and advised the commission that the taxpayer was asking for a partial refund. Commissioners approved the partial refund from the county’s general fund, totaling $1018.72. Plattner said it was the second such refund issued by the commission, noting that a similar situation had occurred on a Marshall lot last fall.

KMMO News reached out to assessor Jessica Adcock Goodman, who says that the discrepancy was brought to her attention last year by the property owner, after her books had closed.  She tells us that the affected property has been fixed in her system, and that she advised the taxpayer that any request for a refund would need to be made to the commission.

The vote came as commissioners continue to defend their position in the lawsuit brought by Goodman that now centers on Saline County’s classification. During her report Wednesday, Northern District Commissioner Stephanie Gooden noted that Saline County had received notification from the State Auditor’s office about its pending move to third class. She also provided the latest totals from the collector’s office, which show $582,931.66 in escrow for the assessor’s office should the courts rule in favor of Goodman. New arguments were filed last week by attorneys for both sides, and the next court hearing has not yet been scheduled.