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Greene County, Indiana ~ Saturday, October 11, 2008
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What can we do about high property taxes?
Posted Friday, August 3, 2007, at 11:04 AM<< Previous | Read comments | Respond | Email link | Next >>
I don't have a solution to high property taxes, but I do hope our state lawmakers come up with something soon.
I know a farmer or two, and they're paying a heck of a lot of money for their property. Actually, everyone is paying a lot. Should lawmakers increase the sales tax and do away with the property tax? What about upping the income tax and doing away with the property tax? The bottom line must be that the tax is spread out equally among everyone. Is it fair for someone who only rents, but has five children in school, to not pay any property taxes? I don't have all the answers, only questions. The issue of property tax reform has been a hot one for many years. So far, nothing serious has been accomplished. Why? Because our state lawmakers haven't been forced to deal with it by the public. Rallying to lower (or do away with) the property tax doesn't mean you're a liberal rebel. It only means you're tired of having to make a choice between paying your property tax or selling your home. If I remember correctly, a rebellion concerning taxation started in Boston many years ago. We must all pay taxes. The government needs the money to provide services and protect us. How we pay is the issue. What do you think? Comments Showing most recent comments first [Show in chronological order instead] |
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People who rent pay the taxes for the property through the rent. 101.
I don't know that our representation is always "of the people". I think a lot gets lost along the way in the game of politics. Many things are negotiated every day to get bills passed or not passed. I think a little grass roots movement might shake things up. I don't think we should "dump tea in the harbor", but it is certainly my right to put a sign in my yard to protest.
This would require unselfish action upon the part of our governing officials. Quoth The Raven "Nevermore".
Don't get me started on equations. According to your equation, if you raise the assessed value then you raise the taxes owed.
In many richer neighborhoods (suburban Carmel, for instance) there are very few blighted properties and their homes are extremely high in value, but so are their property taxes.
Unless you lower the tax rate, your best bet is to live on the blighted properties...or rent.
Let's look at the property tax equation: assessed value x tax rate = total taxes owed.
Assessed value:
We need more businesses, factories, and retail centers, so we can raise the assessed value for the whole area.
Blighted properties are also a strain on assessed value, so we need to start enforcing ordinances against these properties. Aside from being worthless themselves, they bring down the appeal and values for the whole neighborhood.
Chris, I sure hope you are not advocating support for a rebellion. Your historical anecdote should be prefaced with the fact that the rebellion occurred because the populace had no representation in the government that ruled their way of life, unlike our current situation. On the contrary, we have a wealth of representation. You might believe, as you scrutinize the salaries, benefits and the other questionable concessions of our elected representatives, that we pay a handsome price for our representation. It is a high price to pay..to be told how to live.
As for what is fair: what would be fair is basically a "consumption tax" -- meaning a flat tax paid on goods consumed (like food). Everyone needs to eat. If each item purchased has a flat tax on it (say 3%), then those who consume more would pay more. This would even out the scenario Mr. Pruett mentions about a person who rents having 5 children not paying anything into the school district, but single people and elderly paying who own property.
Then, for each person who is consuming something, the tax would be equally applied across the board. Can it be done?
How about the County (or local city and town government) having the Innkeeper's Tax -- that way, the tax is being paid by tourists and visitors coming into the county. Local people are not being taxed.
Then there's EDIT -- Economic Development Income Tax -- wouldn't it be nice if the County Council were able to collect that tax (as part of the percentage of COIT -- County Option Income Tax already being paid by citizens) and devote it to the one thing that is most important for this aging county to survive?
The average age of people in this county is well over the age of counties that are considered to be "viable" and "growing" -- that's because the youth move away after high school, go to college or move elsewhere for good jobs. Let's put the money where it needs to be -- investing in ourselves and our youth.
RE: Property tax challenge.
I believe Mr. Pruett hit the nail on the head by stating it doesn't mean one is a liberal rebel by advocating alternative ways to raise money. I'm afraid we citizens have a tendancy to just let things flow the way they always have. Chris is right in saying it may take a large number of folks having to decide to pay the tax bill or sell their property.
There are proposals and ideas out there right now in Indiana by very talented and informed groups that show how we can actually do away with the property tax. Some of these ideas may seem out in left field, but maybe its time we listen and encourage our legislators to do the same. Alternative sales taxes and other consumption type taxes would place the tax burden on consumers and not just on property owners.
I believe that individual property ownership really is the economic foundation of the U.S. and if we allow the current trend to continue, we could severely curtail this asset.
Please: pay attention and become informed. We are still supposed to be a government from the people on up and not the other way around.