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New Kansas Law Helps Cement Firm With Tax Dispute

A new Kansas law will change how property at cement manufacturing plants is valued for tax purposes and help settle a dispute involving an Overland Park company.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- A new Kansas law will change how property at cement manufacturing plants is valued for tax purposes and help settle a dispute involving an Overland Park company.

Officials at Ash Grove Cement estimated Thursday that the dispute could lower their property taxes in Neosho County in southeast Kansas by $4 million a year. The company has a plant in Chanute with about 140 employees.

The issue has been how much property at the plant falls under the state's property tax exemption for business machinery and equipment. The company appealed to legislators, and they included a provision in a tax bill signed Wednesday by Gov. Sam Brownback.

The company says the change will protect jobs. Neosho County Appraiser David Thornton says it will shift the property tax burden to others.

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