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Formed on August 25, 1855, Shawnee County is located in the northeastern corner of Kansas. The 2010 census estimated the population of Shawnee County at 177,934, which makes it the third-most populous county in the state. In addition, the most recent census estimated that there are 68,920 households and 44,660 families in Shawnee County. The county seat, Topeka, occupies fully ten percent of the county and is also the state’s most populous city and the state capital.
At present, Shawnee County is comprised of 12 townships (Auburn, Soldier, Menoken, Silver Lake, Grove, Rossville, Tecumseh, Topeka, Mission, Dover, Monmouth and Williamsport).
Although many people may not regard Shawnee County as a major tourist destination, tens of thousands of visitors enjoy the active nightlife in Topeka as well as a wide range of interesting cultural attractions and entertainment venues each year, including the Evel Knievel Museum, the Kansas Museum of History, the Blaisdell Family Aquatic Center, the Holley Museum of Military History and the Combat Air Museum. Likewise, Topeka features numerous tours of local historic sites of interest as well as several world-class, award-winning wineries.
The Shawnee County Appraiser’s stated mission is as follows:
* Providing uniform, fair, and equitable appraisals of all real and personal property in compliance with the laws and guidelines of the state of Kansas as well as uniform standards of professional appraisal practice;
* Providing information and assistance to the public in a professional and courteous manner;
* Utilizing resources productively and efficiently in order to ensure the highest level of service and professionalism in the most cost effective manner;
* And providing a work environment that encourages professional growth and assists employees in meeting organizational goals and personal career objectives.
The precise role of the Shawnee County Appraiser’s Office includes estimating the most probable selling price of real estate and personal property for the purposes of taxation. It is important to note, however, that the County Appraiser is not responsible for setting or collecting taxes which are the responsibility of the County Treasurer. Following the valuation of all property in the county by the County Appraiser, the assigned values are certified and then transferred to the Shawnee County Clerk who then uses this information to establish and update budgets for county operations.
In addition, the Shawnee County Appraiser also maintains a user-friendly Web site that features a real estate search portal, personal property online filings as well as an interactive GIS mapping service. The Shawnee County Appraiser’s GIS and Mapping Division is tasked with the provision of GIS support and data for all county departments and local municipalities. Further, the GIS and Mapping Division also maintains current property ownership information for approximately 75,000 parcels of land in Shawnee County. The total appraised value of all land in Shawnee County is $12,727,375,890.
In addition, the Appraiser’s Web site includes information about various ratio study statistics of interest to property owners in Shawnee County. The most recent estimates indicated that county-wide, there is an overall average inflationary increase of approximately 3% in the residential real estate market, an overall average inflationary increase of approximately 2.5% in the commercial real estate market, and a stable market for vacant properties. Likewise, a recent study found that residential new construction in Shawnee County added just over $54.8 million while commercial new construction added over $36.4 million.
The Shawnee County Appraiser’s Web site also includes useful links to other governmental agencies and services as well as contact points for questions and bills of sale for watercraft, business personal property and trailers, non-highway vehicles, ATVs, golf carts and heavy/light duty trucks.
Finally, the Shawnee County Appraiser’s Web sites provides online access to the forms needed for a wide range of purposes, including Kansas Board of Tax Appeals Forms (together with flow charts and instructions), a Guide to Property Tax Appeals in Kansas, Personal Property Assessment Forms, Real Estate Data Questionnaires, Declarations of Representative, Real Estate Search Service Applications and Real Estate Search Service Renewals.
Mr. Steve Bauman
1515 NW Saline Avenue, Suite 100
Topeka, Kansas 66618
(785) 251.2882
SteveBauman@snco.us
(785) 251.4903
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays
Lee Allen – GIS Mapping Coordinator
785.251.6050
Lee.Allen@snco.us
Steve Atchison – GIS Technician
785.251.6049
Steve.Atchison@snco.us
Laura Bevitt – Cadastral Mapping Specialist
785.251.6039
Laura.Bevitt@snco.us
Visitors to Shawnee County, Kansas will likely be pleasantly surprised at the numerous historic, cultural, recreational and entertainment options that are available throughout the county but most especially in Topeka, the county seat as well as the state’s populous city and the state capital. With a population of just 177,934 (the third-most populous county in Kansas), there is also plenty of room for future growth in Shawnee County. Indeed, the consistent year-to-year growth in the county’s population confirms that many people feel the same way, and it is reasonable to conclude that Shawnee County will continue to attract new residents and businesses in the future. By helping ensure that residents and businesses alike receive fair valuations on their property, the Shawnee County Appraiser is contributing to this growth in meaningful ways.