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Property tax relief proposed
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Bob G | 5:22 a.m. Nov. 25, 2007
Also in this amendment it should grandfather property values on homes to
purchase price until sold. Taxes based on assumption of value and locally sold
properties is not a guarantee all homeowners can also get the same value out of
every property in the neighborhood. Until a property is sold the real vaue is
not known and many properties are held and lived in for many years, like the
elderly, retired, and those on fixed low incomes. To tax the elderly out of
their homes and property serves no purpose and places many individuals at the
mercy of other taxpayers as dependents and wards of the state. This is an
injustice to those that have dedicated their lives for the good of the community
then turn around and tax them out of their homes. The market values of
commercial property's should not be compared to homeowners property and
taxed at the same level of commercial properties. Giving the county asessor, a
one man taxing authority, the ability to raise taxes by raising values needs to
be addressed as a serious issue. Taxation is by representation, our legislators,
not the whim of one agency's,(the assesor) ability to generate windfall
taxation.
Anonymous | 8:01 a.m. Nov. 25, 2007
It's about time !!!
RETIRED and HURTING
RETIRED and HURTING
Comments continue below
Rick | 10:16 a.m. Nov. 25, 2007
This legislation is about 10 years too late to provide much in the way of
relief. The big upward price spikes are done for a while.
Im all for lower taxes. | 11:45 a.m. Nov. 25, 2007
"I don't mind", until you are the one building the million dollar
home and paying high taxes I dont think you can speak for those people. The
lower the taxes, the more people spend to boost our economy. Its easy to tell
people to get their priorities straight when you arent the one paying the high
taxes.
Ken Baguley | 11:46 a.m. Nov. 25, 2007
This is a baby step compared to the Jarvis, bless his sole, ammendment in
California in 1977-78. As much as I see and hear about schools...They waste the
money in administration and the building of castles for schools...These are
tough to maintain and are very costly...They need to conserve as well.
Teacher's salaries should be the only issue...It's about time that a
Jarvis ammendment be sought after as a tax-payer's rebellion...Our
legislators will only give it a baby step at a time.
evensteven | 12:54 p.m. Nov. 25, 2007
Revisiting the way property taxes are assessed is probably wise public policy.
However, it may have very uncomfortable unintended consequences. There are just
4 ways to fund government: property taxes, income taxes, sales & excise
taxes, and direct fees for service. Which one of the others goes up when the
property tax is held down? Likely, all 3 with sales taxes leading the pack
since income taxes are earmarked for education.
I agree there should be some mechanism to 'freeze' the amount of property taxes paid by certain qualified elderly or low income persons so they can afford to remain in their homes. It could be in the form of a recorded lien payable upon sale or transfer (except to a qualified trust) of the property.
Perhaps more to the point, most governments and school districts are beginning their budget development processes in January. More informed citizen input might help them pare back and reprioritize those expenditures dependent upon property taxes.
My experience has shown that most citizens complaining in November about property taxes have no time to be bothered in the spring when their voices could really be heard.
I agree there should be some mechanism to 'freeze' the amount of property taxes paid by certain qualified elderly or low income persons so they can afford to remain in their homes. It could be in the form of a recorded lien payable upon sale or transfer (except to a qualified trust) of the property.
Perhaps more to the point, most governments and school districts are beginning their budget development processes in January. More informed citizen input might help them pare back and reprioritize those expenditures dependent upon property taxes.
My experience has shown that most citizens complaining in November about property taxes have no time to be bothered in the spring when their voices could really be heard.
I don't mind | 1:31 p.m. Nov. 25, 2007
My house is almost to one million. well not quite but $650,000. I don't
mind paying the taxes. There are a lot of people out there that need the
money. Teachers sure need more than they are getting.
I pay plenty of property taxes. My neighbors that build "bigger and better" than the last, then complain about their taxes make me laugh. The three SUVs, boat, and vacation home aren't enough. They have to whine and complain over paying an increase that might actually get beginning teachers off of food stamps and free lunch programs for their kids at school.
I don't mind. As long as it goes to the right place.
I pay plenty of property taxes. My neighbors that build "bigger and better" than the last, then complain about their taxes make me laugh. The three SUVs, boat, and vacation home aren't enough. They have to whine and complain over paying an increase that might actually get beginning teachers off of food stamps and free lunch programs for their kids at school.
I don't mind. As long as it goes to the right place.
to: "I Don't Mind" | 5:21 p.m. Nov. 25, 2007
I don't live in a million dollar home and my taxes went up last year 55%.
If I did live in a million dollar home then I'd probably be able to afford
such an increase.
This year, several acres of sage brushy hillside property in the family trust had a 600% (not a typo, that's SIX-HUNDRED percent) increase in property tax. No wonder people are selling agri-land, and sage brushy hillside to developers so they in turn can build those million dollar houses. Are there such things as "starter homes" today?
This year, several acres of sage brushy hillside property in the family trust had a 600% (not a typo, that's SIX-HUNDRED percent) increase in property tax. No wonder people are selling agri-land, and sage brushy hillside to developers so they in turn can build those million dollar houses. Are there such things as "starter homes" today?
Anonymous | 5:32 p.m. Nov. 25, 2007
Local property taxes are not counted in the States' pot of money called
Weighted Per Pupil(WPU). That is WHY we have the lowest WPU in the nation! Is
anyone else upset about this? The legislature cannot and will not require
accountibility for school funding because of conflict of interest. No other
state employee can also be a legislature. Teachers can and do, and thus lobby
and look out for their special interest, education. Ax for teacher salaries, the
mask is off, and we can now find out how poor they are Not, using the utahsright
websight. Only first few years, and smalltown teachers have low wages.
Charles H | 8:17 p.m. Nov. 25, 2007
Time for something like a Prop 13 here in Utah.
The assessed value of a home should be based on purchase price and it should remain fixed until it is again sold, except perhaps in the case of homes owned by non-natural-persons (aka trusts). A home owner--regardless of age or income--should NOT be faced with higher taxes simply because the market suggests his home has increased in value. If a taxing entity needs more money, let them convince the voting public to approve a rate increase on property taxes.
I don't even have a problem with impact fees at time of new construction.
But it just isn't right to have property taxes going up every year without even needing a vote on the matter. I don't know any of us whose incomes are rising as fast as home values have risen the last few years. Retired or not, rising property taxes can put the hurts on a lot of homeowners. A family's home should NOT be at ever increasing risk to the tax man. It should the one asset we most protect in the interest of family and community stability.
The assessed value of a home should be based on purchase price and it should remain fixed until it is again sold, except perhaps in the case of homes owned by non-natural-persons (aka trusts). A home owner--regardless of age or income--should NOT be faced with higher taxes simply because the market suggests his home has increased in value. If a taxing entity needs more money, let them convince the voting public to approve a rate increase on property taxes.
I don't even have a problem with impact fees at time of new construction.
But it just isn't right to have property taxes going up every year without even needing a vote on the matter. I don't know any of us whose incomes are rising as fast as home values have risen the last few years. Retired or not, rising property taxes can put the hurts on a lot of homeowners. A family's home should NOT be at ever increasing risk to the tax man. It should the one asset we most protect in the interest of family and community stability.
Disgusted | 10:46 p.m. Nov. 25, 2007
Now that prices have spiked and heading down, the proposal is to go to a moving
average. That will slow the tax decreases due to lower home value. Sounds like
the legislators are trying to keep taxes as high as possible for as long as
possible.
Evil Realtor Lobby | 12:23 p.m. Nov. 26, 2007
"Disgusted", I partially agree with the bad timing. And add, a
rolling average of bugus assessed market values is a rolling average of bugus
information. GIGO (garbage in garbage out). Statistically smoothing immoral
taxation of unrealized capital gains is no answer, Senator Stowell. Drop your
rolling BS and seriously consideration "acquisition value" taxation
(prop 13 type legislation). Everything being proposed only continues the
Realtor driven MLS false and inflationary property valuations. The
"Current market value" scheme is the disease, and has been dropped by
virtually every State in the Union. Thanks to Kohler, Kyle, and Ostermiller,
the three Realtor lobbyists, our property taxes and the future of Utah remain in
serious doubt. School Districts and teacher shortages; teachers actuallly fear
new hires becasue the Union will require more administrators which grossly suck
up massive salaries denying teacher raises. But when teacher retirement is
considered they are actually overpaid, yet another scam fostered upon us
innocent suckers called the public. Where is Ronald Reagan when we NEED him to
break up the NEA/UEA. Remember PATCO?
randy | 9:34 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007
band-aid, band-aid ..... the capitol hill gang cant do anything ...
but 'we the people' can do something,,, utah is a signatory initiative state .. just like the voucher petition forced a ballot vote .. so 'we the people' can force a property tax petition and change the property tax assessment ourselves .. totally by-passing the capitol hill gang all together ...
either they step up to the plate and change the property tax assessment to the original purchase price .. or 'we the people' will !!!
nothing fair about me having to pay increased taxes on my property because a housing development or a mansion went in at the end of my street ... nothing fair about me only able to buy a certain amount of house but be taxed higher and higher .. my wage determined what i could buy .. why doesnt my wage determine my property taxes ? my property taxes went up 52% this year, my employer didnt give a pay raise even close to that .. if my wife didnt work i would have a house to live in ... enough is enough
'we the people' will make the property tax law now
but 'we the people' can do something,,, utah is a signatory initiative state .. just like the voucher petition forced a ballot vote .. so 'we the people' can force a property tax petition and change the property tax assessment ourselves .. totally by-passing the capitol hill gang all together ...
either they step up to the plate and change the property tax assessment to the original purchase price .. or 'we the people' will !!!
nothing fair about me having to pay increased taxes on my property because a housing development or a mansion went in at the end of my street ... nothing fair about me only able to buy a certain amount of house but be taxed higher and higher .. my wage determined what i could buy .. why doesnt my wage determine my property taxes ? my property taxes went up 52% this year, my employer didnt give a pay raise even close to that .. if my wife didnt work i would have a house to live in ... enough is enough
'we the people' will make the property tax law now
randy | 9:46 a.m. Nov. 27, 2007
yes it is time for prop 13 from calif in 1978 ... my house value is only worth
what i paid for it when i bought it .. when i sell it then it has increased or
decreased value depending the time of the sale ... just because others around me
are buying and selling shouldnt have a direct bearing on my property taxes ...
utah .. we can and should by-pass capitol hill and create a petition for a property tax of 1% of the original purchase price ....
screw rolling averages, screw 5% caps, forget capitol hill's line in the sand ...
utah registered voters we can and need to take control on this issue ... we DONT need capitol hill on this issue at all .. and apparently they arent listening to us ... so forget them ... let's get our property assessments where they should be and what we can afford because that is all the money we had to buy the stupid place to begin with ...
utah .. we can and should by-pass capitol hill and create a petition for a property tax of 1% of the original purchase price ....
screw rolling averages, screw 5% caps, forget capitol hill's line in the sand ...
utah registered voters we can and need to take control on this issue ... we DONT need capitol hill on this issue at all .. and apparently they arent listening to us ... so forget them ... let's get our property assessments where they should be and what we can afford because that is all the money we had to buy the stupid place to begin with ...
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People that build these million dollar homes and then complain about their taxes are just ridiculous.
Get some priorities.