Lawrence’s property-tax rate remains among the best bargains in the state, according to a new survey.

Lawrence ranks second among Kansas’ 10 largest cities when it comes to the lowest property-tax rates, according to data compiled for the League of Kansas Municipalities.

“Reasonable property taxes are always a positive thing, but people don’t always interpret it that way when they get their tax bills,” said Mike Wildgen, Lawrence city manager. “It still doesn’t mean people are happy. And just because we’re low doesn’t mean we’re better.

“You can drop a 10-pound weight on your little toe or you can drop a 20-pound weight on your little toe. They both still hurt.”

Lawrence’s combined 2002 tax rate — for taxes assessed by the city, Douglas County, Lawrence school district and other taxing entities — for the 2003 budget year came in at 105.9 mills, or enough to get $1,826 from the owner of a $150,000 home. Only Overland Park ranked lower among the state’s biggest cities, with the bill for a home of similar value coming in at $1,797.

A mill equals $1 in taxes for every $1,000 of a property’s assessed valuation.

Taxpayers across Douglas County are suffering especially sharp pain this year and could face even more next year, said Don Cashatt, president of the Douglas County Property Owners Assn.

Even as Lawrence’s combined property-tax rate dropped 4.4 percent from a year ago, Cashatt noted that this year’s county property valuations jumped an average of 9.5 percent. The disparity means many property owners already are paying higher tax bills despite the lower rates.

Next year could get even worse, he said, as elected officials wrangle with declining sales-tax receipts, dwindling finances from state government and an overall economy that doesn’t show many signs of recovery.

Douglas County commissioners, for example, already are mulling the prospects for a tax increase to help ease budget cuts among the county’s school districts. Wednesday night, commissioners will gauge interest in taking over the schools’ nursing programs, a move that could trigger a tax increase to cover the estimated $1 million cost.

The meeting is set for 6:35 p.m. at the county courthouse, 1100 Mass.

“It’s time to make some effort to confront this,” said Cashatt, whose organization has about 100 members. “We don’t believe that we ought to increase taxes. We believe we’re being taxed enough. The officials we elect need to learn to live within their budgets.”

Cashatt’s group will convene a “Taxpayer Alert” meeting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Building 21 at the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds, 2110 Harper St. Speakers will include Jere McElhaney, a county commissioner opposed to tax increases; and Karl Peterjohn, executive director of the Kansas Taxpayers Network.

A year ago, Lawrence’s combined tax rate ranked third behind Salina among the lowest rates for the state’s 10 largest cities. This year Topeka had the second-highest rate among the 10 largest cities, the same spot as last year.

Here’s a list of tax rates in area cities, expressed in mills, listed from lowest to highest:

• Lecompton, 98.180.
  ¢ Overland Park, 104.165.
  ¢ Lawrence, 105.881.
  ¢ Eudora, 116.096.
  ¢ Lenexa, 116.158.
  ¢ Tonganoxie, 120.607.
  ¢ Basehor, 122.262.
  ¢ Olathe, 122.740.
  ¢ Baldwin, 128.058.
  ¢ Ozawkie, 128.362.
  ¢ De Soto, 131.873.
  ¢ McLouth, 141.351.
  ¢ Atchison, 142.606.
  ¢ Topeka, 143.147.
  ¢ Oskaloosa, 145.669.
  ¢ Leavenworth, 144.777.
  ¢ Edgerton, 156.071.
  ¢ Ottawa, 157.104.
  ¢ Wellsville, 158.207.