County Clerk Job Description
The Kansas County Clerk and Election Official has many duties. Though it would be impossible to list every job that every county clerk/election official does, a snapshot is available below.
Clerical
2021 Kansas Statutes 19-304. Duties of county clerk. The county clerk shall: (a) Keep the clerk's office at the county seat; (b) attend the sessions of the board of county commissioners, either in person or by deputy; (c) keep the seals, records and papers of the board of commissioners; (d) sign the records of the proceedings of the board of commissioners, and attest the same with the seal of the county; and (e) have the general powers of a notary public in the performance of all notarial acts. History: G.S. 1868, ch. 25, § 43; R.S. 1923, § 19-304; L. 1998, ch. 81, § 1; July 1.
- Records and maintains official minutes of meetings
- Attests the signatures of the County Commissioners on documents
Budgeting
- Responsible for office budget(s)
- Keeps all financial reports of the County and other entities
- Assists smaller taxing entities with budget preparation annually
Taxation
- Calculates July and November abstracts of valuation and taxation
- Prepares the tax roll in preparation of printing tax statements
- Sets and certifies levies annually
- Motor Vehicle Abstract Certification annually
Payroll/Human Resources (duties may vary by county)
- Administers Payroll for all County employees
- Reports and pays all employment taxes and insurance premiums
- Issues W-2s for County employees
Voter Registration/Election (Chapter 25 of Kansas Statutes)
- Is responsible for all aspects of election: ballots, polling sites and equipment in accordance with federal, state and local laws and regulations
- Maintains records of elections in official abstract
Miscellaneous
- Sells moving permits, cereal malt beverage licenses and firework permits
- Maintains fixed asset inventory for the County
- Assists taxpayers annually with Homestead and Food Sales Tax refunds
- Freedom of Information Officer for the County (in most counties)
- Notary Public for State of Kansas to conduct notarizations
- Administers Oaths of Office and Swears-in Sheriff's Deputies
- Sells Wildlife and Parks Hunting and Fishing licenses
You may file at the County Clerk's office at 105 W. Rutledge St. Yates Center KS, 66783 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
You may also access the forms here: Kansas Department of Revenue - Homestead Refund (ksrevenue.gov)
You can only file for one program, Homestead, SAFESR or SVR.
PLEASE NOTE THAT IF YOU WILL BE FILING A FEDERAL OR STATE INCOME TAX RETURN FOR 2023 THAT RETURN NEEDS TO BE FILED PRIOR TO FILING FOR HOMESTEAD.
Homestead Refund
The Homestead Refund is a rebate program for the property taxes paid by homeowners prior to January 1, 2023. The refund is based on a portion of the property tax paid on a Kansas resident’s homestead. If you own your home, the refund is a percentage of your general property tax. The maximum refund is $700. This refund program is not available to renters.
WHO MAY QUALIFY?
To qualify you must be a Kansas resident, living in Kansas the entire year. Your total household income must be $40,500 or less. You must also meet one of the following requirements:
- You were born before January 1, 1969, OR
- You must have been totally and permanently disabled or blind during the entire year, regardless of your age, OR
- You must have had a dependent child living with you all of last year who was born before January 1, 2023, and was under the age of 18 the entire year
SAFE SENIOR –Kansas property tax relief for low-income seniors
The Safe Senior Refund is a property tax refund program administered under the provisions of the Kansas Homestead Act (Property Tax Refund). Safe Senior is also referred to as, “Kansas Property Tax Relief for Low Income Seniors”. The refund is up to 75% of the 2023 general property tax paid or to be paid on the 2023 real estate tax statement for the residence in which the claimant lived in 2023.
WHO MAY QUALIFY?
To qualify a claimant must meet all of the following requirements for the Safe Senior refund:
- Owned a home and resided in Kansas all of 2023
- Aged 65 years or older for all of 2023 (born before January 1, 1959) and
- Household income $23,700 or less in 2023
- Property taxes cannot be delinquent
Senior and Disabled Veterans Property Tax Refund (SVR Homestead)
As the property tax amount of the claimant’s home increases over the years, the amount of property tax over the base year amount is refunded back to the claimant. This in essence is “locking” in the presumable lower property tax by refunding any increased amount of property tax back.
WHO MAY QUALIFY?
- Total house income must be $53,600 or LESS, AND
- You must be over the age 65 or older all of 2023, OR
- You were a disabled veteran 50% or more military disability, disabled in the line of duty and honorable discharged, OR
- You were a surviving spouse of a disabled veteran receiving the SVR and who was NOT remarried, OR
- You were a surviving spouse of person 65 or older receiving the SVR and who was NOT remarried
WHAT DO I NEED TO FILE?
- Your refund amount from your 2022 claim
- Your banking information if you would like to have your refund directly deposited into your bank account
- All information regarding any HOUSEHOLD INCOME (that is, for every person who lived in the home even if they file separate taxes)
- If you qualify under the disability provision you will need to know the date (day, month and year) in which you first became eligible for disability. You may obtain this information from the Social Security office
- All household members’ personal information, including name, date of birth, and social security number
Some examples of income are:
- Taxable and nontaxable wages, salaries, self-employment, unemployment compensation
- Interest and dividends
- Earned income credit (from 2023)
- Social Security, SSI benefits, retirement, pensions, disability payments
- Alimony, child support, foster home care payments
- Jury duty payments, gambling winnings
- Welfare, food stamps, TAF, general assistance