Property exempt from taxation; municipal airports, airport authorities; valuation of land and improvements

79-201q. Property exempt from taxation; municipal airports, airport authorities; valuation of land and improvements. The following described property, to the extent herein specified, shall be and is hereby exempt from all property or ad valorem taxes levied under the laws of the state of Kansas: (a) (1) All property owned and primarily operated as an airport by a political subdivision, including property leased by the political subdivision for purposes not essential to the operation of an airport, for all taxable years commencing before January 1, 1993. (2) For all taxable years commencing after December 31, 1992, all property owned and primarily operated as an airport by a political subdivision, including property leased by the political subdivision for purposes essential to the operation of an airport. Payments in lieu of property taxes may be required for any or all of such years for such leased property, and such payments shall be apportioned and distributed in the same manner as general property taxes. (b) If the term of any lease existing on April 15, 1991, of any such property for purposes not essential to the operation of an airport extends beyond tax year 1992, the expiration date of the exemption provided by subsection (a) shall be the tax year next following the tax year during which such lease expires. Payments in lieu of taxes may be required for taxable years commencing after December 31, 1992, for any such property for the duration of any such lease, and all such payments shall be apportioned and distributed in the same manner as general property taxes. (c) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to apply to or limit the operation of K.S.A. 27-319, 27-330 or 79-201a Second, and amendments thereto. (d) All property taxes, including any penalties and interest accrued thereon, imposed upon any property described in subsection (a) and (b) for all taxable years to which such subsections apply are hereby declared to be canceled but any such amounts paid in any such year shall not be refunded except that with respect to Liberal municipal airport such amounts shall be refunded. (e) The county or district appraiser shall value the land and improvements, and the value of the land and improvements may be entered on the assessment rolls in separate entries and descriptions. The provisions of this subsection shall be applicable to all taxable years commencing after December 31, 1992. History: L. 1991, ch. 7, § 2; L. 1992, ch. 171, § 1; L. 2003, ch. 156, § 1; July 1. Law Review and Bar Journal References: "What Should Lawyers Know from the 2003 Kansas Legislative Session?" Whitney B. Damron, 72 J.K.B.A. No. 7, 16 (2003). Attorney General's Opinions: System of taxation; classification; exemptions; uniform and equal provisions of constitution. 91-71. CASE ANNOTATIONS 1. Tracts of land leased by an airport solely for the purpose of generating revenue do not qualify for an exemption. In re Tax Exemption Application of Strother Field Airport, 46 Kan. App. 2d 316, 263 P.3d 182 (2011). Previous | Next LEGISLATIVE COORDINATING COUNCIL General Policies 2026 Archived LCC Documents Archived LCC Meetings REVISOR OF STATUTES Archived Session Documents Archived School Finance Documents USEFUL LINKS Session Laws Kansas Administrative Regulations OTHER LEGISLATIVE SITES Kansas Legislature Administrative Services Division of Post Audit Research Department Contact Us PDF Help www.ksrevisor.gov 2026