Does a new proposal have the teeth to bring property tax relief to Topeka?

TOPEKA (KSNT) - Topeka city council is set to discuss a proposal targeting property taxes. The question is: does it have teeth?

Topeka resident Earl McIntosh went to great lengths organizing a petition and getting thousands of signatures around Topeka. The petition seeks to require the city to put any property tax increases to a vote. McIntosh's efforts forced leaders in the capital city to discuss the petition during a July 9 council meeting.

The city chose to ignore it.

In the wake of that decision, on July 18 District 8 City Councilman, Spencer Duncan, created a resolution 'urging all taxing entities, to keep mill levies at the lowest possible rates.'

Passage of the resolution would be a formal acknowledgement by city leaders that its residents are facing financial hardship; but, it wouldn't require any taxing entity to actually do anything about it.

Nonetheless, McIntosh said the resolution is a good thing for the people of the capital city.

"Since our meeting this resolution has come forward," McIntosh said, "and that's very exciting for us and the taxpayers of Topeka." Though McIntosh said he's still 'weighing his options' when it comes to pushing the tax petition forward.

During an impromptu press conference with McIntosh and his lawyer immediately following the July 9 council meeting, the two said they're not giving up on the petition. McIntosh's lawyer said that could mean taking legal action against the city.

The city is scheduled to take action councilman Duncan's resolution July 30.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.