INDEPENDENCE, Mo. - Judge Michael Manners denied a temporary restraining order to keep property assessments at the 2008 numbers.
In his ruling Manners writes that only property owners have the right to sue over assessments.
Eleven school districts sued Jackson County claiming the 2009 assessments were dramatically undervalued.
Standing behind employees with the assessors office the county's attorney, Charlene Wright, called this ruling a victory.
"It's good news today for 217,000 homeowners in Jackson County who are less likely to face a $54 million dollar tax increase,” says Wright.
The 11 school districts are disappointed. They say the alleged inaccurate assessments mean $35 million in cuts.
"We're trying to keep the cuts, as much as possible, away from students. But that's not going to be entirely possible,” says Independence Superintendent Jim Hinson.
Hinson says it could mean cuts in school programs and perhaps transportation.
“We're going to see some increase in class size. We've moved some teachers this week to different buildings and different grade levels then they thought they were teaching,” says Hinson.
Raytown superintendent Allan Markley says the ruling means a loss of $4 million to their district.
He says everything is on the table as far as cuts go including staffing, programs and activities.
The school districts may also consider raising their tax levies.
