EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo. (Sept. 26, 2025) – Both the City of Excelsior Springs and the Excelsior Springs School District have finalized their 2025 property tax rates. The updated levies reflect rising assessed valuations, state-mandated rollbacks, and adjustments to fund city and school operations in the year ahead.
City of Excelsior Springs
During a public hearing and special council meeting on Friday, Sept. 26, the Excelsior Springs City Council approved Ordinance 25-09-09 setting the city’s 2025 property tax levy.
- Assessed valuation: $239.6 million in 2025, up from $214.2 million in 2024 (an 11% increase).
- Tax rate: Rolled back from $1.0567 per $100 (2024) to $1.0051 (2025).
Breakdown of the 2025 levy per $100 of assessed valuation:
- General Fund – $0.5449
- Parks – $0.1534
- Recreation – $0.1534
- Hospital – $0.1534
The city projects $2.4 million in total property tax revenue under the 2025 levy, including $69,519 from reassessment and $8,664 from new construction. The levy funds the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2025. Officials noted the newly approved senior citizen property tax discount is handled separately by county collectors and does not affect the levy-setting process.
Excelsior Springs School District
On Sept. 23, the Excelsior Springs School Board held its annual hearing and unanimously approved the 2025 school tax levy of $5.2262 per $100 of assessed valuation.
- Assessed valuation: Increased from $314.6 million (2024) to $347.3 million (2025), a 10.4% increase.
- Operating levy: Rolled back from $4.1289 to $3.9351 to comply with the Hancock Amendment.
- Debt service levy: Increased from $0.6173 to $0.8111, reducing the need to dip into Classroom Trust Fund dollars.
- Capital projects levy: Unchanged at $0.4800.
The district expects to generate $18.1 million in total property tax revenue under the 2025 levy, including $703,278 from reassessment and $127,183 from new construction. The levy funds the school district’s fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025.
What Is the Hancock Amendment?
Missouri’s Hancock Amendment, approved by voters in 1980, limits the amount of revenue governments can collect from property taxes in years when property values rise faster than inflation. If assessed valuations increase by more than the cost of living, tax rates must be “rolled back” so that local governments do not receive a windfall in revenue. As a result, tax rates can fluctuate year to year, even when overall valuations climb.
What This Means for Taxpayers
For both city and school district taxpayers, the 2025 tax rates reflect higher property values balanced with state-required rollbacks to prevent windfall revenues. While some levy rates decreased, most property owners will still see higher bills due to increased assessments.
Tax bills reflecting the 2025 rates will be issued later this year by Clay and Ray counties.
Watch a full replay of the City Council Special Session on the Excelsior Citizen YouTube Channel.
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