Tax Tax Tax

[buckeyefarmer]

That's what we get in my town, over 80% of our town's tax money goes to the school and it goes up every year with no end in sight. Even if the towns people vote against the school budget, we are required to pay it, they just have to take it from the other town departments. The thing that gets me is the first thing they cut to make ends meet are the police and fire. How about cutting the non essential employees and political hacks.

Thats done intentionally, you will always fund fire and police, so they take it from them, knowing you will pay.

 

[Gunny]

In Kentucky, schools and libraries can raise their taxes without a vote as long as the increase is 4.5% or less. Want to guess how much they go up each year? They also collect the school taxes on our utility bills and vehicle taxes.

 

[RSKY]

In Kentucky, schools and libraries can raise their taxes without a vote as long as the increase is 4.5% or less. Want to guess how much they go up each year? They also collect the school taxes on our utility bills and vehicle taxes.

And the teacher's retirement fund is in a mess because the legislature has borrowed/stolen money from it and never paid it back. Now the present governor is trying to straighten the mess out and is getting the blame for what was done before he even thought about taking office.

RSKY

 

[ultrarunner]

The county coffers should be in great shape with the explosion in real estate values of homes sold... in California a transfer triggers a new cost basis... and lots of sales happening here.

It is like a concerted effort to inflate obligations away through higher sales prices bringing in my tax revenue.

Thinking about it give me pause because 98 year old 3 bedroom 1 bath homes under 1100 square feet are in the mid 600k range presently... that is about 10k annual property tax...

These are the same homes people walked away from in 2008-12 and were selling for 100 to 155k... so prices have gone up by a factor of 4 times or more...

Here is a link of a pending home... I have nothing to do with it except it is a typical 1920s East Oakland Bungalow...

32 Bartlett St, Oakland, CA 9462 - realtor.com(R)

Or this two bedroom under 1000 square feet with burglar bars on the windows sold for 635k

3274 Nicol Ave, Oakland, CA 9462 - realtor.com(R)

 

[txdon]

The county coffers should be in great shape with the explosion in real estate values of homes sold... in California a transfer triggers a new cost basis... and lots of sales happening here.

So if you are in a house that you paid $300,000 for and that is your tax base and you sell it for $600,000 and you have to move to another $600,000 house your taxes will double even thought you did an even buy?

 

[ultrarunner]

YES... with one exception... there is a one time provision for Seniors "Down Sizing" to take their assessment with them within the county... a few California counties have reciprocal agreements.

The idea is to let Grandma and Grandpa not be "Stuck" in a large family home due to lower taxes when they desire to downsize...

Downsize means price and not square footage.

Those 1080 square feet 1920's Bungalows sold new for $2500 and now one year's property tax is 4x what the place cost Brand New....

I bought my place for 60k in 1985.... from the original owner that paid $2500 in 1922.... of course that 2500 was back when we had Gold Coins!!!

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Can move to "New California".

 

[txdon]

YES...

I bet the real estate agent hate that tax law it really discourages moving.

 

[MossRoad]

Can move to "New California".

Read about that today... hmmm....

 

[ultrarunner]

My brother's farm would be in new California and I would be in old California.

Taxes and more important how tax money is spent are key elements for sure... plus a disconnect between rural and urban centers.

Do find it odd that Sacramento was in lock step with Washington under the Obama Administration repeatedly citing they have to go along with Federal Law and now under the Trump Administration these same politicians are steadfastly becoming State's Rights advocates...

Sometimes I wonder if the rhetoric heard in the Bay Area Cities and Sacramento doesn't sound similar to pre Civil War days and the argument over State's Rights?