Does Anyone Else Have The "ViewTax"?

[MikeD74T]

I guess that's the difference between here and there. We have state, city and county sales tax.

Since we don't have high property taxes here, I should have let you all discuss and cuss this among yourself.

If you don't think something is wrong with your property tax evaluation, then pay up and more next year.

I might add though. One of these days the government will have to learn to operate within a budget.

BillyP, In NH we live between states that have sales & income taxes. They shop here to avoid their own taxes. The sales tax on my $43K truck was $zero. Our property tax seems high because we don't have those other taxes. The "view" tax was invented by appraisers to support a statewide school funding issue. "Poorer" regions of the state want the "richer" regions to pay for their school, meanwhile they want no industry to spoil their bucolic settings. People with the "million dollar view" know their property is worth more, they ask for more when they sell, but don't want to be taxed while they own. Ask them to sell for their 2000 appraisal plus inflation vs 2006 appraisal & you can guess what the answer is. I have 2 homes, the one with the view got a 50% increase 2 years ago. I still wouldn't sell for appraised value. It's easy to defeat the view tax, just destroy the view -plant trees, cover the house with tarpaper, surround yourself with junk vehicles, & demand a new appraisal. Then try to sell for big bucks.
NH also has a problem with people that move here for a simple life with a lower cost then immediately demand every service they left behind. They get the services, because that's what government is and does, then complain about the price.
IMO the greatest irony regarding the "view" tax is the "view" is mostly tax exempt government owned land or tax reduced farm/forest land. My view is beautiful farm land on 3 sides, overlooking National Forest mountains. 4 times a year the farm land is covered with liquid manure. I cannot open a window for a week each time. I accept that smell because it is the reason I have a view the rest of the time. No manure-no farm- the land will only grow houses. The tax man is fickle about coming to my house on manure days because we have no "smell" tax and the view is still there.

 

[Thomas]

Morning Ductape and all.
Not to side track here..but what feather me up little about our taxes,people move in to our area and vote in things like 15mile bike & walk paths,street lights on side of mountain,rec. parks which no one shows interest in useing and the list goes on.
Theres alot more newbie's than natives,and what really feathers me up the newbie's vote this stuff in and leave the area in short time which leaves the native tax payer holding the bag...Now how about them Red Sox's.

 

[CurlyDave]

When I went up to Oregon for a fishing trip on the Rogue river, I asked the guide why the homes on the river were up for sale and if they go fast. He said those homes have been for sale awhile and the folks around the area won't buy them because the tax is just way to high.

I just bought property in Oregon, and I think you have been fed a line of bullroar.

Measure 5, limits the increase in property taxes to 3% per year, similar to Prop 13 in CA where the limit is 2% per year. One big difference , is that the tax is also limited when a property is sold. I think OR is more fair in this regard.

To me, the real problem with living on the Rogue River, is that the river is a public right of way, and at many times of the year is quite heavily traveled, with rafts, boats, etc. On some days several people per minute will pass any given property from first light to dusk, all day long.

This is quaint & intriguing for about a week and then you realize that your backyard is right next to a freeway...

 

[Ken_CT]

Morning Ductape and all.
Not to side track here..but what feather me up little about our taxes,people move in to our area and vote in things like 15mile bike & walk paths,street lights on side of mountain,rec. parks which no one shows interest in useing and the list goes on.
Theres alot more newbie's than natives,and what really feathers me up the newbie's vote this stuff in and leave the area in short time which leaves the native tax payer holding the bag...Now how about them Red Sox's.

We have the same thing here. This is/was a rural area, nice and quiet. It was "discovered" a few years back and now there are McMansions going up on every available spot. Some of these houses are cut into rock with an unusable back yard which goes straight up, and a front yard you could rappel down.
Because all these houses are negative tax revenue; cost more for their kids education than the houses pay in taxes, our taxes have gone up 30% in the past few years. We put up a huge new high school with a beautiful sports field, and of couse a swimming pool. After the kids are out of school the owners will move to a smaller home and these McMansions will be bought by new families with kids, so most will never pay for what they use. I can't imagine what some of these people were thinking when they bought these very expensive houses with no usable yard. I even saw a picnic table in the driveway in front of the garage because it was the only flat spot. Well, there goes the neighborhood.

Ken

 

[_RaT_]

I think OR is more fair in this regard.

I really cannot argue with that. I get soaked. I would love to see that implemented here in California. Prop 13 has its good points but it has its downside. I really don't understand the ultra progressive nature of property tax anyway. I get nor need anymore services then the next guy, but because my home was purchased last year, I pay considerably more for those services. My wife wants to go to Oregon just to look at some land or a home as an investment. I have been to Oregon perhaps more then any other state with the possible exception of Nevada where I have done some construction.

 

[George2615]

Here in NY most towns recently reassessed properties in their areas. Mainly because they have been lazy in my opinion. Some areas hadn't been reassessed in 15-20 or more years. Many waterfront $10,000 camps were torn down over the years and replaced with $250,000 homes. For many years people got away with paying taxes as if the 10K camp was still there. I know some people who have a 2 acre lot on top of a mountain with a modest home and a 30 mile view and don't pay any excessive tax for the view. Taxes here are pretty much based on home square footage and lot size although waterfront is usually assessed at a higher rate because it is considered choice or prime property.
I also agree with Doc-Bob about the Gov't. living within our budget. My problem with them is their ability to write a blank check for money they don't have yet if I do it I can go to jail, and I'll say nothing more on politics.
I just wish the wife and I were closer to retirement age so we could move to another state with less expensive taxes.