Johnson County to provide more than $400,000 this year in property tax relief for qualified applicants

In its third year of existence, the 2026 Johnson County pilot Property Tax Relief Program will help more households than the first two years combined. Today, the Board of County Commissioners learned that 687 households will receive a payment by check in 2026 to help offset the county's portion of their property tax bills.

Over the past three years, this program has provided $629,649.81 in property tax relief.

"When the Board introduced this pilot program three years ago, our goal was to provide meaningful property tax relief to the most vulnerable members of our community," said Board of County Commissioners Chairman Mike Kelly. "Since then, nearly 1,200 households have received significant relief because of this program, and it is my hope that we will further expand this program to continue delivering targeted relief to those who need it most."

The 2026 average payment for those who applied will be $587.66 per eligible household.

History of the Pilot

• The Property Tax Relief Program pilot launched in 2024. Recipients had to be very low-income seniors or disabled veterans. The program assisted 207 households with $41,197.05 in relief payments.
• For the second year, the BOCC removed the $200 refund cap and the county increased its communication about the program. In 2025, the program assisted 359 households with $184,731.58 in relief payments.
• In December 2025, the BOCC expanded the program to benefit more residents who fall within federally set very low-income limit ranges. That expansion removed the previous qualification that a recipient had to be a senior or disabled veteran and increased the maximum home value criteria needed to qualify.

Funding Sources

The BOCC allocated $500,000 of Countywide Support Funds to the pilot program in 2023. In September 2025, the county transferred $93,318.43 in additional funds from the Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund into the account.

In 2026, the fund had $365,049.25 remaining. Today, the BOCC voted to authorize an additional $38,672 in county general fund reserves to ensure all of this year's 687 eligible applicants received full relief for their Johnson County property tax.

More information is available at jocogov.org/PropertyTaxRelief under the "Johnson County Property Tax Relief Program" heading. Residents can also view information on property tax relief programs offered at the city and state level at jocogov.org/PropertyTaxRelief.