2 pilots plot a revolt over property taxes
They live blocks apart in what may be the most tranquil setting in the entire state downtown Huntsville looks like Norman Rockwell painted it on his best day and neither one is on the verge of bankruptcy. Sorensen, 43, is a pilot for Northwest Airlines and Bell, 63, is a retired F-16 pilot who spoils his grandkids.
So what exactly prompted these two mild-mannered, middle-class gentlemen to organize something called "Wingmen for Property Tax Reform"?
Why are they so fired up that they want to change the state constitution and drum every status quo tax traditionalist out of the Legislature?
Their answer actually lies in their prosperity.
"Life is too good here," says Sorensen, "to mess it up with an insane property tax system."
"We need to get this fixed before it's too late," says Bell.
"This" is Utah's market-reflexive property tax system. When real estate prices rise, property taxes rise proportionately. During boom times, such as at the moment, that means taxes double right along with house prices.
The financial hit can be enormous. In some cases, a tax bill might as well be an eviction notice.
In Huntsville and surrounding Ogden Valley, where second-home sales and burgeoning winter resorts have Realtors driving Benzes, that scenario has been playing out too often.
For Sorensen, who grew up in Huntsville working at his father's grocery store, it's been hard to watch people who have lived in the same house for decades suddenly have to face the hard cold fact that their new tax bill leaves them with two choices: rob a bank or move.
"I'd like to protect the people who have lived here all their lives and still want to live here," he said.
"The idea to change the tax structure started out as a Huntsville thing," he said. "Then real quick we realized we have to take it to the state level to get it fixed."
The fix, Bell believes, hinges on Utah changing to a "simple, understandable" property tax system like Oregon's.
Oregon responded to a similar real estate-inflation crisis by assessing property values based on their worth at acquisition without adding Realtors fees and landscaping improvements and then mandating that taxes across the board would be one percent of the assessment and could increase by no more than 2 1/2 percent per year.
It is not dissimilar to the sweeping simplified tax changes on vehicles Utah implemented a few years ago.
Under such a system, Bell said, "You could replace every assessor in this whole state with one Dell (computer)."
The crusading pilots have set up a blog dbelltax.blogspot.com as a clearinghouse for people who want to become involved.
"We need to start a tsunami that will take over the whole state, from Snowville to St. George," said Sorensen.
That's storming the Bastille, Huntsville style.
Lee Benson's column runs Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Please send e-mail to benson@desnews.com and faxes to 801-237-2527.
Recent comments
My question is for Mr. Goddard. How much has the assessed value on...
RollieFngrs | Oct. 8, 2007 at 6:05 p.m.
Again,... Z you misspeak. No one's property tax rates "go up" as you...
Minor Machman | Oct. 2, 2007 at 6:57 p.m.
This type of system seems great on the surface. After all, what's...
Z | Oct. 2, 2007 at 10:23 a.m.
- Sports briefs 10:42 p.m.
- Utahn places fourth at swim meet 10:40 p.m.
- RSL looks to make a point tonight 10:38 p.m.
- Cash for Clunkers to get rolling soon 10:38 p.m.
- Women ski jumpers lose Olympic bid 10:36 p.m.
- The number: 47% 10:25 p.m.
- Priestley, wife have baby boy 10:23 p.m.
- Underwood concert for soldiers 10:21 p.m.
- Plant honored by Prince Charles 10:20 p.m.
- National news briefs 10:08 p.m.
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- Jazz talking Boozer trade?
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
- Blazers offer Millsap 4-year deal
- Jazz in back of line for free agents
- A primer for the 6th Potter film
- Okur signs two-year extension
- Jazz won't meet Lopez on Europe trip
- Restaurant destroyed by fire
- Letters: Palin mistreated
142 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
136 - LDS seminary principal arrested
135 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
123 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
94 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Blazers offer Millsap 4-year deal
76 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
74 - Letters: Single-payer system best
71
As more and more dads are put out of work in this economy, I've been...
The photographs are mysterious, brooding, dark. They show dimples and...
I hope everything goes well for the owner and the family and the employs god...
Just give you an example? Hows this: all of these social programs and huge...
Carron; now show us the right way on illegal aliens. You know what the...
Life in the "Land of the Free." Bush lied about wire taps. Bush believed our...
LOYAL, COACHABLE, 6'11", AT LEAST PUT SOME EFFORT INTO DEFENSE, ABILITY TO...
you think it is ethical to have a government run health system??? lets be...
Well said my friend, well said. The insane have taken over the asylum.
Welcome to the Utes Boys! Wynn and you guys are going to own it in a couple...
Mr Bernick; the last thing I want is a "shrewd" politician representing me....

