My wife's chickens are official taxpayers

[Loren49]

We can agree or disagree on opinions. The facts are a different matter. I gave examples of taxes being reduced and in the case of the school district reduced significantly. The fact is the tax rate went down when there was a significant increase in the tax base. Another fact is that in NYS an increase in the tax base does not result in a budget surplus. The budget is set after the tax base is set for the year. You have a budget surplus when you spend less overall than was budgeted in that year. Another fact - my towns budget surplus is not promptly spent - in recent years it is growing - there is a good reason relating to the PILOT with the wind farm for this. Your blanket statement on fund balance is false.

Its so easy to criticize. Try doing a budget - first some ground rules - if you run out of money in your budget you can't borrow without having a vote by the residents (in a town this is why there is often some fund balance - for you some savings). You need to finalize the budget in November 2010 for the 2011 fiscal year. How much will you spend on electricity, fuel, repairs, food, travel, healthcare, auto, insurance etc. - do you budget for a serious illness with out of pocket expenses of $20,000 or more or the unexpected replacement of a car - remember you can't borrow without a vote. Oh, and after your budget is done have about a thousand people look at it so they can tell you what you did wrong or more often just tell you all thats wrong without looking at it. By the way - how many of the public have unacceptable credit card debt - how many are really fiscally responsible? Our town has no credit card - budgets require public hearings and borrowing requires voter approval. And remember there are also elections to fire us if we are not satisfying our neighbors. (I get $2000 per year for these headaches)

We can disagree on how much our government (local, state, federal) spend on any item. I predict that if we knew the details of where money is spent many would be in agreement as to where some of the excesses are.

Loren

Loren

 

[Mike Costello]

The overall problem with Govt. is that most people are willing to provide monies (taxation) for the good of all, but highly resent it when increases come along with nothing to show for it. It doesn't help matters either when politicians perform parlor tricks in order to extract more revenue.

In 1978 Californians passed Prop. 13 in response to local govt. propertry tax increases that were threatening to tax people right out of their homes. Property taxes were limited to 1% per year increases and assessed valuations had to be redone if values declined significantly. Fair enough.
The politicians then got around the provisions of prop 13 by raising other taxes, creating bond measures, special taxing districts, and other assortments of dirty tricks. The result was that taxes continued to rise, even though the voters sent a clear message to govt. to watch their spending. This sort of thing is one reason California is in such a mess today. Bottom line: Most people know when to reign in their spending and take appropriate action. Govt. hasn't learned how to do it yet.

 

[Loren49]

I have to disagree with this:

"Most people know when to reign in their spending and take appropriate action."

A significant number buy more than they can afford and are in a constant state of financial distress. Over a large income range this seems to be true. What percent of people carry a credit card balance at significant interest rates because they bought things they didn't need?

Trouble is some of these same people do the government budgets.

By the way I am also paying property tax on my chicken coop - I think that was what this thread was about.

Loren

 

[milkman]

I won't make the same mistake when I get chickens, I'm getting the top 2% income bracket chickens and they won't have to pay taxes.:laughing::laughing:

 

[Mike Costello]

I won't make the same mistake when I get chickens, I'm getting the top 2% income bracket chickens and they won't have to pay taxes.:laughing::laughing:

Nice one!

 

[johnrex62]

I won't make the same mistake when I get chickens, I'm getting the top 2% income bracket chickens and they won't have to pay taxes.:laughing::laughing:

Not good enough. You also have to make sure they are conservative chickens or they will feel guilty about not paying enough taxes and try to get yours raised so that they can feel better about themselves.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

How about the thread about the skunk in the chicken coop, put one of those in and then let the assessor in... :laughing:

 

[Mike Costello]

How about the thread about the skunk in the chicken coop, put one of those in and then let the assessor in... :laughing:

In this age of quesswork and "good enough for govt. work", you probably wouldn't get one to come out.

 

[Alan L.]

I went to a property tax valuation arbitration hearing this past summer and was greeted by picture after picture of my place. Some were from the air, others were from standing right in the front "yard". Some with both cars present, meaning I was not at work and was there - never knew they showed up.

These !@#$!@#$ think they can do whatever whenever they feel like it, including trespassing and taking pictures without even telling you they are there.

This really hacks me off and I consider it a breach of privacy. It was made very clear at the beginning of the arbitration process that any criticism of the appraisal district including their means of gathering information about "their" property would NOT tolerated. So, you reach around you ankles and take it in behind.

Bottom line is, none of us here in Texas actually "own" anything. We have to pay about 2.5 - 3% of the value to the king every year to keep it.

 

[Loren49]

I like the skunk plan!

Loren