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Heartland Motorsports Park (KS) Will Not Relocate
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Chris Payne, the owner of Heartland Motorsports Park in Topeka, Kansas, has announced the track will not leave the city.
Previously, Payne explored the possibility of relocating over concerns that the track was being overtaxed. Instead, the owner plans to stay and fight. He told The Topeka Capital-Journal he plans to file legal action against the appraiser’s office in the near future.
“It’s our town, it’s our track and this is where it needs to stay and I’m not going to let outside elements change that,” Payne told the Capital-Journal.
Earlier this year the Shawnee County appraiser told The Capital-Journal that Payne agreed to the current tax rate after the state Board of Tax Appeals effectively lowered it from $10.4 million to $7.5 million for the tax year 2017.
FY18 valuations and property tax levels would levy upwards of $28,600 per month on Heartland and more than 25 properties Payne owns around the racetrack, according to the county appraiser’s website.
Since purchasing the track three years ago, Payne has paid nearly $300,000 in taxes. The track has a positive relationship with Topeka, according to Payne, who stressed that the dispute is specifically with the appraiser’s office.
“The appraiser’s office is the issue,″ Payne said to the Capital-Journal. “It’s not necessarily Shawnee County. It is the county appraiser’s office. They have been withholding certain items and they can’t support the value they put on Heartland. They can’t support it, so we’re going to let the legal system decide and deal with it.”
For more information, visit the Heartland Motorsports Park website.
Previously, Payne explored the possibility of relocating over concerns that the track was being overtaxed. Instead, the owner plans to stay and fight. He told The Topeka Capital-Journal he plans to file legal action against the appraiser’s office in the near future.
“It’s our town, it’s our track and this is where it needs to stay and I’m not going to let outside elements change that,” Payne told the Capital-Journal.
Earlier this year the Shawnee County appraiser told The Capital-Journal that Payne agreed to the current tax rate after the state Board of Tax Appeals effectively lowered it from $10.4 million to $7.5 million for the tax year 2017.
FY18 valuations and property tax levels would levy upwards of $28,600 per month on Heartland and more than 25 properties Payne owns around the racetrack, according to the county appraiser’s website.
Since purchasing the track three years ago, Payne has paid nearly $300,000 in taxes. The track has a positive relationship with Topeka, according to Payne, who stressed that the dispute is specifically with the appraiser’s office.
“The appraiser’s office is the issue,″ Payne said to the Capital-Journal. “It’s not necessarily Shawnee County. It is the county appraiser’s office. They have been withholding certain items and they can’t support the value they put on Heartland. They can’t support it, so we’re going to let the legal system decide and deal with it.”
For more information, visit the Heartland Motorsports Park website.
