Acquisition-based valuation is merely a scheme by grumpy old men to shift taxes from seniors to young families and new businesses.

Given that most Utahns, if lucky, receive a 3% pay increase per year, how much longer can property taxes continue to rise before home-owners in Utah can no longer afford to pay them?

I purchased a home 4 years ago for 170,000. Last year my property was "Assessed" at over 500,000. My tax increase was 165% over the assessment only 2 years previous. My Appraisal from 4 years ago was for 170,000.

Please answer how that is Fair-Taxation? Acquisition based property taxes, allowing for a nominal, 2-3 percent annual increase is the only way to prevent our Government from taking away our properties by valuing them beyond our ability to pay the taxes.

The DNews is writing about something it doesn't understand. No matter what the assessors do then can never properly manage the property tax system. It is unmanageable and we are pricing people out of their homes.

PTH,
Your value goes up almost 300%, your taxes only increase 165% and you're complaining? Sell your home and reap the profits if you don't want to pay the taxes. Oh, I know, you'll complain that it's not really worth 500K and there's no way you could sell it for that amount. Well, if that's the case then appeal your valuation and quit whining.

People who complain about their property taxes really just think that some else should pay for fire fighters and fixing pot holes, not to mention public education. What ever happened to contributing to the community that you live in?

And no matter how often these complainers talk about property taxes "forcing people from their homes," we never actually meet someone that it has happened to. Why is that? Because it never actually has happened!

Masochists love more and more taxes. They just keep on feeding the government trough, regardless of need.

Property taxes are a way for government to keep ownership from the people.

Think you own your home? You don't. Stop paying your property taxes and see just how long it takes before "your" home is taken from you.

I don't care where the money is going; that is irrelevant. I want to know just how it's fair for the government to make me pay for the right to own property.

Property taxes should be abolished along with the income tax.

It'll never happen because of the combination of the overwhelming number of people who have bought into both of those, and the politicians who will never in a million years give up any amount of power that they have over us.

Cynical? Perhaps. But can you prove me wrong?

Jeffrey,

Property taxes have nothing to do with keeping "ownership" from the people. You're not paying for the "right to own property." You're paying for the right to belong to a community. Property taxes are used to provide community services to the property owners. Property taxes help to keep communities safe and clean and hopefully desirable places to live and work. If you don't want to belong, feel free to go someplace where you'll have to pay for EVERY service you want by yourself.

If you don't pay your taxes, rest assured, you still own your property. But the community reserves the right to eventually throw you out.

According to an article from 2006 in the D-news, "If Utah taxes, penalties and interest are not paid after five years, counties may seize and auction the property of delinquent companies to collect amounts due." This isn't preventing ownership, it's preventing freeloading.

It is far more likely that the banks that own the mortgages that most of us are paying will take our homes than that a local government will. Besides, property taxes pay for services, not for "the right to own property."

You sound like one of those grumpy old men.

"This isn't preventing ownership, it's preventing freeloading."

Freeloading? Are you serious? You mean that I live in a house that I paid for in full, on land that I paid for in full, and you think it's right for the government to be able to charge me for that, AND to take all of it away if I refuse to abide by that? That's insane. Absolutely insane.

I'm not opposed to paying taxes. I'm opposed to unjust taxes. And property tax is one of the unjust taxes.

You say that it's because we belong to a community. That's not true. You could live out in the boondocks of the boondocks without another soul for hundreds of miles and the government would still want "their" cut for the land you live on and the home you live in.

If you read my comment I stated it does not matter what property taxes go to pay for, as they are unjust taxes. I don't argue that services are needed, but they shouldn't be able to hold my own property over my head to pay for it.

Jeffrey,
Your argument is quite weak. Just because your house and land are paid in full that does not mean you do not still use services that are paid for, in part, by property taxes.

You're probably right, there won't be too many places left where you can completely avoid property taxes. But I guarantee you that if you move far enough out in the "boondocks" that your property taxes will be a lot less, because the amount of services provided to you will be a lot less. However, you should plan on providing and maintaining your own water and sewer systems, building and maintaining your own roads, hauling all of your garbage away (or living amongst it) and don't expect emergency services or access to a public school system. There's probably a few more things that property taxes PAY for but those are probably the biggest expenses.

Your logic is just not sound Jeffrey. The government isn't charging you for living in your house; they're charging you for providing services.