Property Taxes

[Steppenwolfe]

I've always had a couple of issues with property tax and think it's a crappy way for revenue for a couple of reasons.


1. It's not self regulating in relation to a persons income or consumption.
I pay $7500/year in property taxes, that's $625/month. If I got injured or lost my job tomorrow, I could reduce my expenses and try to get by. But I'd still need to come up with $625/mo to have a place to live. Same with cycles in the economy. Regardless if we're in a boom or bust economy, my property tax remains the same.

2. People that don't own property and don't have "skin in the game" regarding property tax are able to vote on issues about how your property tax is spent.


I've always thought that an income and consumption tax is a better system that equally impacts everyone.

Yep, feel the same way here...:thumbsup:

 

[Steppenwolfe]

My property taxes this year are nearing 20k. We have private sewer and water, maintain my own road, pay a company for trash pick up, and no kids in the school system. I think I make a decent living ... but the tax burden the town is placing on us has us looking to get out. Between property tax, excise tax on cars and business, along with state and federal income tax and other associated fees etc.... it's out of control. I simply cant imagine it's going to be sustainable here, ..and soon people are going to revolt.

And yet... Boston is booming with people wanting to live there...

 

[Tomtint]

And yet... Boston is booming with people wanting to live there...

It is booming...but when the boom goes bust..... it's really going to open some eyes. ....I'm not going to wait for that... I'm getting out while the getting is good.

 

[PILOON]

I live on a lakeside.
Recently the city decided that waterfronts were valuable so they upped taxes 'by the foot' and reduced home values.
As it turned out most high priced homes were on the north side and all their taxes actually came down, so no complaints.
On the south side many houses were on the minimal side (hard to construct) and hence the taxes were upped due to frontage on the water.
(must add that the north had a municipal road while the south needed a boat to build, ergo true pioneers)
Not fair for sure but what to do?
I registered a claim (Cost me $ 75.) (but lost) as they needed that additional income.

I've been here 70 years, I built the road that services us (at a very low cost) , and prior boated all my home to this site (B4 the road) and now I'm taxed to the hilt. ?.
Not a happy camper!
OK, I'm 'comfortable' so I'll live it out but not fair., just pisses me off!

 

[Maxify]

My son is employed by a company in Boston but tele-commutes from his home in Atlanta. As his wife is a big Mucky Muck with a major name brand there in the big A.
He's turned down several major promotions within his firm which would necessitate a move back to Boston.
His own words: "Even if they made him COB, he wouldn't move back."
There are far too many taxes and COL is far too high to live in Mass. compared to living in the south.
Income and property taxes are but a few of the issues he has with life alongside Fenway & weather isn't even in the top 10 reasons.
Even though the weather really sucks up there.
I had my fill of the unionized north some 20 yrs ago.

Taxes here?
Homestead Exemption & Ag/Equine Exemption
I only pay for the 2 acres the house sits on.
Life is good

 

[teejk]

I have the privilege of living in the state with the highest property taxes in the country. $13,800 annually for a relatively modest 3 bedroom home on 1 acre with no municipal water or sewer or trash collection. Also, $1,400 annually for 23 acres farm/forestry assessed.

Yeah but living in New Jersey your income and other taxes are nothing! Sorry...could help myself there. You get taxed high on everything. I escaped Westchester County NY several years ago. Moved back to Wisconsin where the overall taxes are also obscene but nothing like NY.

 

[teejk]

I live on a lakeside.
Recently the city decided that waterfronts were valuable so they upped taxes 'by the foot' and reduced home values.
As it turned out most high priced homes were on the north side and all their taxes actually came down, so no complaints.
On the south side many houses were on the minimal side (hard to construct) and hence the taxes were upped due to frontage on the water.
(must add that the north had a municipal road while the south needed a boat to build, ergo true pioneers)
Not fair for sure but what to do?
I registered a claim (Cost me $ 75.) (but lost) as they needed that additional income.

I've been here 70 years, I built the road that services us (at a very low cost) , and prior boated all my home to this site (B4 the road) and now I'm taxed to the hilt. ?.
Not a happy camper!
OK, I'm 'comfortable' so I'll live it out but not fair., just pisses me off!

Property taxes have forced many long time residents out of their lake front properties. Always somebody with a pile of money willing to pay for the property and God ain't making any more lakes. That drives your assessment. Not fair at all

 

[Tomtint]

My son is employed by a company in Boston but tele-commutes from his home in Atlanta. As his wife is a big Mucky Muck with a major name brand there in the big A.
He's turned down several major promotions within his firm which would necessitate a move back to Boston.
His own words: "Even if they made him COB, he wouldn't move back."
There are far too many taxes and COL is far too high to live in Mass. compared to living in the south.
Income and property taxes are but a few of the issues he has with life alongside Fenway & weather isn't even in the top 10 reasons.
Even though the weather really sucks up there.
I had my fill of the unionized north some 20 yrs ago.

Taxes here?
Homestead Exemption & Ag/Equine Exemption
I only pay for the 2 acres the house sits on.
Life is good

I know several people who have already left Ma.. Boston proper is a chit hole... there is no putting lipstick on that pig anymore...

 

[Jstpssng]

Property taxes have forced many long time residents out of their lake front properties. Always somebody with a pile of money willing to pay for the property and God ain't making any more lakes. That drives your assessment. Not fair at all

That caused fishermen to move from their homes on the ocean long ago... now they are slowly losing places to moor their boats, as ocean frontage prices keep rising.

 

[sodamo]

I really hate re property tax. Are we really supposed to believe that someone in a $500k house uses 5 times the government services as someone in a $100k house? Truth be known, I suspect the opposite is true - the $100k owner uses more, more likely to involve the PD and FD, likely live in an area of heavier traffic/road use. Probably more people live in the house on average, meaning more garbage etc. I know in my own case, I’m the highest paying resident on our street of 20 plus houses, but I don’t get anymore government services than any of the other, likely less. As for retired people, there ought to be a mechanism that property taxes cannot be raised more than % income rises.

Consumption tax is the way to go.