Property owners seeking tax abatements for improvements in Excelsior Springs’ downtown redevelopment area now have a clearer roadmap for navigating the program.

City Council members recently approved updated residential and commercial guidelines for the Chapter 353 Property Tax Abatement Program following a review of obstacles applicants encountered while trying to understand the process.

Economic Development Director Keith Winge said the guidelines were reviewed as management of the program transferred to him from Neighborhood Specialist Laura Mize. During that process, staff examined areas applicants struggled tounderstand and worked to better explain the program, providing a checklist for applicants to follow.

The Chapter 353 program provides qualifying property owners within the downtown redevelopment area with partial property tax abatement in exchange for rehabilitating or redeveloping their properties. The program is administered by the Excelsior Springs Redevelopment Corporation a…