Issues That Matter
Gresia Cabrera has a clear, common-sense plan for Jackson County. Here's where she stands on the issues that affect your family every day.
The Tyler Technologies Assessment Scandal
Jackson County hired Tyler Technologies to conduct its 2023 property reassessment. What followed was one of the most controversial and legally challenged tax actions in county history — and residents are still paying the price.
What Happened — Timeline of Events
Tyler Technologies Hired
Jackson County contracted Tyler Technologies — a Texas-based software and assessment firm — to conduct a mass reassessment of all residential and commercial properties. The contract was worth millions and covered the entire county.
Assessment Notices Sent — Shock Hits Residents
Homeowners across Jackson County received reassessment notices showing increases of 30%, 50%, even 200%+ on their property values — in some cases overnight. Many had not had a physical inspection of their property. Neighborhoods in Kansas City's east side and historically Black communities were among the hardest hit.
Appeal Flood — System Overwhelmed
The Jackson County Board of Equalization was inundated with over 40,000 appeals — more than triple the normal volume. The county was legally required to hear them all but lacked the staff and infrastructure. Thousands of appeals went unheard by the legal deadline.
Missouri State Auditor Launches Investigation
Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick opened a formal investigation into Jackson County's reassessment process, citing concerns about accuracy, methodology, and whether proper procedures were followed under Missouri law.
Class Action Lawsuit Filed
A class action lawsuit was filed against Jackson County on behalf of thousands of property owners, alleging the reassessment was conducted improperly, that values were inflated without adequate on-site inspections, and that the appeals process was unconstitutionally denied to many residents.
State Auditor Report Released — Damning Findings
The State Auditor's report found that Jackson County failed to follow proper reassessment procedures, that Tyler Technologies' mass appraisal model produced inaccurate valuations, and that the county did not conduct adequate physical inspections. The report recommended corrective action and greater oversight.
Litigation Ongoing — Residents Still Overpaying
The class action lawsuit remains active. Many residents who missed the appeal window — or whose appeals were never heard — are still paying inflated tax bills. The county has made limited corrections but has not issued broad relief. Seniors and fixed-income residents continue to bear the heaviest burden.
Known Discrepancies
What the audit and lawsuits revealed
No Physical Inspections
Tyler Technologies' model relied heavily on algorithmic mass appraisal with little to no on-site inspection — meaning properties were valued based on data that was often outdated, incorrect, or inapplicable to the neighborhood.
Comparable Sales Mismatched
Many properties were compared to sales in entirely different neighborhoods or property types, inflating valuations far beyond what the actual market supported.
Appeals Denied by Deadline Failure
The county failed to process thousands of appeals before the statutory deadline, meaning residents lost their legal right to challenge their assessment — through no fault of their own.
Disproportionate Impact on Minority Neighborhoods
Analysis showed that predominantly Black neighborhoods on Kansas City's east side saw some of the highest percentage increases, raising concerns about algorithmic bias in the assessment model.
Commercial vs. Residential Inconsistency
Some commercial properties saw modest increases while adjacent residential properties were dramatically reassessed — creating an uneven burden that fell hardest on homeowners and renters.
Property Loss Crisis
Residents who couldn't pay — and lost everything
When property taxes spike and residents can't pay, the county places a tax lien on the property. If unpaid, the property goes to a tax sale — often purchased by investors for pennies on the dollar. For many long-time homeowners, this means losing a home they may have owned for decades.
Estimated — exact figures pending Jackson County Collector records request
Based on Jackson County Collector public tax sale records
Estimated subset of tax sales — exact owner-occupancy breakdown not yet published
Estimated based on county demographic data and delinquency patterns
The Senior Crisis
The average Social Security benefit in Missouri is $1,547/month. After the 2023 reassessment, many Jackson County seniors saw their annual property tax bill increase by $800–$2,400 — representing up to 13% of their entire annual income. With no mechanism to freeze assessments for fixed-income seniors, many face an impossible choice: pay the tax bill or keep the lights on.
Gresia's Plan
Holding the County Accountable
Six concrete actions Gresia will take as County Legislator to protect residents from assessment overreach and ensure no family — especially seniors on fixed incomes — loses their home to an inflated tax bill.
End No-Bid Assessment Contracts
Demand competitive, transparent bidding for any future assessment contract. No more handing millions to outside vendors without public scrutiny, performance benchmarks, and penalty clauses for inaccurate work.
Mandatory Physical Inspection Standard
Push for a county ordinance requiring physical on-site inspections for any property reassessed above a threshold percentage — not just algorithmic estimates from a software model.
Senior Property Tax Freeze
Introduce legislation to freeze property tax assessments for Jackson County residents age 65+ on fixed incomes. No senior who has paid into this community for decades should lose their home to a tax bill they cannot absorb.
Automatic Appeal Extension for Missed Deadlines
If the county fails to process appeals by the legal deadline — as happened in 2023 — residents should receive an automatic extension, not lose their rights. Gresia will push for this as a statutory protection.
Independent Assessment Oversight Board
Create a citizen-led oversight board with the authority to audit assessment methodology, review vendor contracts, and publish annual accuracy reports — putting accountability in the hands of residents, not politicians.
Tax Sale Reform & Right of Redemption
Advocate for extended right-of-redemption periods for owner-occupied homes and seniors, and require the county to notify at-risk homeowners of assistance programs before placing a property in tax sale.
Gresia's Pledge to Jackson County Seniors
“If you built your life in this county, raised your family here, and paid your taxes for 30 years — you should not lose your home because a software company got your assessment wrong and the county failed to fix it. I will fight every single day to make that right.”
Jackson County's Crime Problem By the Numbers
Jackson County's violent crime rate is nearly 4× the national average. Our families deserve better — and Gresia has a concrete plan to turn these numbers around.
Sources: KCPD Annual Report 2023, FBI Uniform Crime Report 2022 (most recent full national release), Missouri State Highway Patrol
Violent Crime Trend
+10% since 2018Violent crimes per 100K residents
Homicides
2018–2023Annual homicide count, Jackson County
Regional Comparison
Violent crimes per 100K — FBI UCR 2022
Crime Breakdown
Annual incident counts by category — Jackson County
Gresia's Response
What a County Legislator Can Actually Do
Fund the Sheriff's Office
Advocate for a fully-funded Jackson County Sheriff's Office with competitive pay to recruit and retain experienced officers — reducing vacancies that leave neighborhoods unprotected.
Invest in Crisis Response
Allocate county resources to co-responder mental health teams so law enforcement isn't the only answer to every 911 call — freeing officers to focus on violent crime.
Target High-Crime Infrastructure
Use county budget authority to improve street lighting, fix abandoned properties, and fund security cameras in the highest-crime corridors of the 2nd District.
Support Re-Entry & Prevention
Fund proven re-entry programs that reduce recidivism, and invest in youth intervention before young people enter the criminal justice system.
Demand Accountability & Data
Require the county to publish transparent, real-time crime data and hold regular public safety briefings so residents know what's happening in their neighborhoods.
Empower Neighborhood Watch
Create a county grant program to fund neighborhood watch organizations, block captains, and community safety coalitions — putting residents in charge of their own safety.
Homelessness in Jackson County Has Surged
Since the pandemic, Jackson County has seen a dramatic rise in unsheltered residents. This is a crisis of housing, mental health, addiction, and economic instability — and it demands a real response.
Sources: Kansas City Point-in-Time Count, HUD Annual Homeless Assessment Report, MARC Regional Data, 2023–2024
Point-in-Time Count
+30% since 2019 (est.)Homeless individuals counted, KC metro
Note: 2020 count was disrupted by COVID-19 protocols; actual numbers likely higher.
Root Causes
Why homelessness surged after the pandemic
Sources: HUD AHAR 2023, Zillow Research, BLS, NIDA, KC ERAP program data
The Hidden Driver
Jackson County's Property Tax Hike Is Pushing Families Into Homelessness
In 2023, Jackson County completed a sweeping property reassessment that sent tax bills skyrocketing — in some neighborhoods by 30% to over 200% in a single year. While homeowners felt the pain directly, the ripple effect on renters has been devastating: landlords passed the increases straight through to tenants, triggering a wave of rent hikes, evictions, and displacement that has directly fueled the homelessness surge.
The Chain Reaction
Seniors on Social Security cannot absorb sudden rent spikes. Many face the impossible choice between medication, food, and rent — and lose.
Families earning just above assistance thresholds have no safety net. A $200/month rent hike can be the difference between housed and homeless.
Long-time homeowners — especially in historically Black neighborhoods — face tax bills that threaten generational wealth and force them to sell.
Gresia's Position on Property Tax Reform
Gresia believes the 2023 reassessment was mishandled and that Jackson County must implement a homestead exemption for long-term owner-occupants, a senior freeze program for residents over 65 on fixed incomes, and a phased assessment cap to prevent sudden spikes from displacing families. As a county legislator, she will push for transparent reassessment processes, independent appeals support for low-income residents, and anti-displacement protections tied to tax increases.
Every New Tax & Fee Piled onto Jackson County Residents Since 2020
The property reassessment didn't happen in isolation. Jackson County and Kansas City residents have been hit with a compounding stack of new taxes, levies, and fee increases — each one individually justified, but collectively crushing household budgets and accelerating displacement.
KC Earnings Tax Renewal
1% of all wages
Renewed for another 5 years — $600–$800/yr for avg. worker earning $65K
KCMO Stormwater Fee Increase
+$3.50/mo per household
Part of a multi-year infrastructure plan; billed directly to utility accounts
Jackson County Mental Health Levy
$0.0875 per $100 assessed value
Added to property tax bills — approx. $87–$175/yr for median-value home
KC Public Safety Sales Tax
0.25% sales tax increase
Estimated $60–$90/yr per household in additional sales tax on everyday purchases
Jackson County Property Reassessment
Biggest ImpactUp to 200%+ value increase
Avg. $1,100/yr increase per homeowner; renters absorbed hikes through rent increases
KCMO Water Rate Increase
+8.7% rate hike
Average household water bill up ~$12–$18/mo; part of a 5-year infrastructure plan
KC Streetcar Expansion Sales Tax
0.5% sales tax
Estimated $120–$180/yr per household — disproportionately impacts lower-income residents who spend more of income on taxable goods
Jackson County Library Levy
$0.0366 per $100 assessed value
Layered on top of reassessment-inflated values — compounding the effective increase
KCMO Solid Waste Fee Increase
+$4.25/mo per household
Trash and recycling collection fee increase — added to utility bills
Cumulative Annual Burden — Typical Jackson County Household
Estimates based on Jackson County Assessor data, KCMO budget documents, and Missouri Municipal League reporting. Individual impact varies by income, property value, and consumption patterns.
Gresia's Commitment on Taxes & Cost of Living
Every tax and fee has a justification — but no one is adding up the total bill hitting Jackson County families. Gresia will be that voice on the county legislature. She will demand a cumulative impact analysis before any new levy or fee increase is approved, fight for low-income and senior exemptions on county-controlled charges, and push for a taxpayer transparency dashboard so residents can see exactly where every dollar goes.
Who Is Experiencing Homelessness
Breakdown of Jackson County homeless population — 2024 Point-in-Time Count
Gresia's Response
What a County Legislator Can Actually Do
Expand Emergency Shelter Capacity
Use county budget authority to fund additional emergency shelter beds — especially for families with children and seniors — so no one is forced to sleep outside.
Invest in Affordable Housing
Advocate for county-backed affordable housing development and partner with nonprofits to convert vacant properties into permanent supportive housing units.
Fund Mental Health & Addiction Services
Increase county funding for outreach workers, mobile crisis teams, and treatment programs that address the root causes driving people into homelessness.
Prevent Evictions Before They Happen
Create a county emergency rental assistance fund to help families facing eviction stay housed — it costs far less to prevent homelessness than to address it after the fact.
Coordinate a Regional Response
Work with Kansas City, Independence, and other municipalities to align resources, avoid duplication, and create a unified Jackson County homelessness action plan.
Support Pathways to Employment
Partner with workforce development programs to connect homeless residents with job training, ID recovery, and employment placement — giving people a real path forward.
Her Commitment
A Promise to Jackson County
Gresia Cabrera pledges to govern with transparency, fiscal responsibility, and an unwavering commitment to the working families of the 2nd District.
Transparent Government
Regular town halls, open budget meetings, and a published voting record — always.
Fiscal Responsibility
Every dollar of taxpayer money will be spent wisely, with full accountability to residents.
Always Accessible
An open-door policy for every constituent. Your voice matters — and Gresia will listen.
Stand Behind This Platform
If you believe in Gresia's vision for Jackson County, join the campaign today — as a volunteer, a donor, or both.