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Residents appeal home values

Salt Lake County has a broken system too. The day after I read that housing values were down 14% in some places, I got my tax notice and saw that my home value had increased by $80,000. That might be great if I'm selling, but I'm planning to stay. I don't need my home value to rise. Find a fair solution for everyone, not just those who flip.

Time to FIRE goobermint workers!

Our representatives have had ove a year to work on the over evaluating property being done by county assesors and it seems they did nothing. Now they are passing the buck to home owners once again. Why should our representatives care about who elects them, they are better paid by lobbyist. Property taxes should be grandfathered to purchase price or improvements, not on speculative and fraudlent market pricing. Then more must be done to keep taxing entities from increasing taxes without representation. The county assesors valutation should not be the method of determining taxes, it is too volitale a market for an assesor to regulate and determine our taxes. Our elected representatives are in the position of trust to control and regulate taxation. Representatives doing nothing is worse than criminal. Instead of raising taxes for vehicle fuel cost, get rid of the vehicles. We need responsibe and accountable government, not spend thrift agency's. Cut services if need be, many are not cost effective anyway and a major tax burden. Schools and education follow the state and federal constitutional requirements, no illegals in them. There are many ways government can cut costs and be responsible.

I thought our nation believed in a right to property, so why do we let our government tax something to which we have a right? How long before they tax the air you breathe? Hmmm. Now that I think about it, they already are in a roundabout way with the stinking emissions tests--for other property (the vehicle you drive)! Then we let cities jack up the mill levies so that we can have golf courses and recreation centers. When the bill comes, who do we blame? We blame the assessor when we should be blaming ourselves for not holding our elected representatives accountable. Our priorities are seriously screwed up and we're quite good about blaming someone else for it. First, there should be no unconstitutional property tax. Second, though there is, we should scrap unnecessary "services." Third, we should blame ourselves for getting us into the mess we're in. Fourth, we should get ourselves out of the mess by holding our elected officials accountable. So, when you make that call (better, yet write a letter) to complain, call (or write) your state senator and/or member of the state house of representatives.

The easiest way to increase tax revinue is to overinflate the estimated value of property. The government knows that 99% of it victims will not appeal.

I'm one of those that had our tax increase rediculously.

2007 value = $188,000

2008 value = $270,000 ????

I did have an appraisal done right at the tail end of the housing boom (August 2007) for $239,000. My house has NEVER been worth $270,000. Where'd they pull that figure from...(well, don't answer that, but I'm sure you've used your imagination already).

With the housing market at the first of the year (when I assume the values were assigned), I'd assume our home to be worth somewhere in the neighborhood of $215,000-225,000. I appealed to get a $220,000 evaluation.

Mine went from $200,000 to over $300,000, and that was after a $30,000 increase last year. Over 50% increase in one year, are you kidding me? Where am I supposed to come up with that kind of cash on short notice?

My property taxes have increased 80% in 2 years. I don't have room in my budget for increases like that. This is nuts. I can't even begin to say how angry I am.

Cut spending already!

We haven't received our property value statement yet, but we feel for the folks up north. Why doesn't the state pass an ordinance prohibiting the raising of property taxes on folks who have lived in their homes prior to a specific year and who are the original owners? It seems heartless to tax retirees out of their homes.

Utah needs to get their act together! Other western states are way ahead of them in environmental issues as well as property tax adjustments.