Reader comments
Legislators eyeing property-tax reform ideas

Salem | 9:34 a.m. Oct. 9, 2007

It's long passed time someone who can control this madness address this issue! In the six years we have lived in our home no assessments have been done, keeping out taxes at $550. Now, our recent tax bill jumped to almost $2700!!!! And we are on a fixed income. We expected an increase but absolutely nothing like this. We will have to sell our home in order to make ends meet! How can this kind of NEGLIGENCE on the part of local assesors be justified??

Anonymous | 10:43 a.m. Oct. 9, 2007

It can not (be justified). And Joe should have reported on the few citizens who were given only one minute to offer solutions.

Fix it or get out? | 7:06 p.m. Oct. 9, 2007

The legislature should fix the problems or get out of the legislature.

California waited for the politicians to get their hands out of their pockets and took action on their own. My taxes in CA remained at $700 dollars instead of jumping to $2700, with a 2% increase each year.

Perhaps Utahns will have to take it into their own hands and put it on the ballot. The state needs to live within its means, just as a do.

My taxes jumped $1300 this year alone. I too am retired and on a fixed income. What will it be next year? You can say my home is worth $X but if I sell it for $Y will they give me back my taxes because I sold it for less than what they thought it was worth. I don't think so.

Comments continue below

Minor Machman | 10:04 p.m. Oct. 9, 2007

A ballot initiative will not do it. We must gain the attention of and support from 2/3 of the legislature to actually change the State Constitution and then the law in order to get "acquistion value" (proposition 13 similar type property tax reform). Go to dbelltax.blogspot.com for more information and join in the discussion and become a part of the solution. I totally agree with these comments but much more is and will be needed than venting our spleen on blog sites and comments to news articles. Hope to have you and everyone you know join us as we network across Utah to make what you want actually happen. D-Bell

Paul Hales | 4:20 a.m. Oct. 14, 2007

Gas, it's 3 time higher in the last few years. It will probably go higher by that much.
British Petroleum claims it doesn't cost any more to refine oil but it's rise in price is a supply and demand. That means to me the oil industry is getting more for nothing.
Taxes should be a percentage. If Utah was receiving 12 cents on a dollar, they should receive 12% of whatever the price goes to. That would be our windfall along with theirs.

It might control gluttony.
That's all, Paul

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