property tax

I'm sure the old WIIFM (What's In It For Me) factor's driving this one.  Probably shows very little income on his income tax return but ends up helping pay for local roads, schools, and etc because of the property taxes and doesn't want to pay his share of that either.

catmechanic Said:
http://www.valleynewslive.tv/artman2/publish/facebook/17176.shtml

what do you guys/gals think of this?

Farnorth Said:
I lived in Minnesota for 15 years.  During that time, the difference I noticed was that I paid much more in State Income taxes and property taxes were quite low.  There are many other issues involved but I don't think the Minnesota model is superior to ours when I look at the relative financial health of the two states.

eyexer Said:
right now our property tax is as high or higher in some regions as Minnesota.  My dad has a home that is valued equal to mine in the south suburbs of Minneapolis and I pay more in taxes. 

Farnorth Said:
I lived in Minnesota for 15 years.  During that time, the difference I noticed was that I paid much more in State Income taxes and property taxes were quite low.  There are many other issues involved but I don't think the Minnesota model is superior to ours when I look at the relative financial health of the two states.

Farnorth Said:

eyexer Said:
right now our property tax is as high or higher in some regions as Minnesota.  My dad has a home that is valued equal to mine in the south suburbs of Minneapolis and I pay more in taxes. 

Farnorth Said:
I lived in Minnesota for 15 years.  During that time, the difference I noticed was that I paid much more in State Income taxes and property taxes were quite low.  There are many other issues involved but I don't think the Minnesota model is superior to ours when I look at the relative financial health of the two states.

That's interesting.  When I lived in Minnesota, the property taxes there would have been considerably lower on the same value property but Income Tax on the same income was much higher.  If the property taxes are similar now, I wonder how the Income tax burden compares.

Jay S Said:
Sorry, but property taxes are high for 1 of two reasons or both!!!!!!   1)  Property tax owners are not paying attention how their local elected officials are spending or 2)  Property owners are part of the problem because they are wanting too many services provided to them by the people they elect and then stand around bars, cafes and FBO and bitchandmoan!  Aside from a sales tax, Property taxes are the easiest to control if people do what they are supposed to do to be responsible!!!!!!!!   You save sales tax by not buying things and you keep property tax in control by not demanding the local governments to do for you what you should be doing ......WE SHOULD be doing for ourselves!  Fiscal restraint.  Problem is, we are all more socialistic than we think and want to be fed but we forget that robbing peter to pay paul and then complaining about it just doesn't make much sense.  We would rather bitchandmoan and act smart then to exert some responsibility!  Hell I wonder if most of our kids can even find that word in the dictionary any more.  I know most teachers don't want anything to do with it!!!!

While this sounds good, I think it'd be a huge mistake.  Right now with property taxes we control at the local level not only their spending, but their rates.  If our community wants our school to be a little nicer, we as taxpayers can agree to pay a bit more.  If we want nicer parks, roads, same thing.  Also, property taxes are probably the most stable.  Both income and sales taxes vary widely with the economy.  Problem with them is when times slow down and services are most required, the revenues slow down as well.  Also, look at Minnesota.  What's the first thing people at the state level cut.  Funds to local communites.  I think I'd prefer my local government levels to be more stable and the amount they get be based on our local wants and needs.