[ACTS Mom]

Originally Posted by annerk

I closed on my house in 2004. I pay over $9K a year in taxes. I have neighbors whose home is worth more than mine by at least $100K who closed in 2001 who are paying $3500 in taxes. And that is equitable how??

Maybe you should contact the county for a reevaluation of your taxable value -- not that it would do any good. That's quite different from the market value. There are limits on the annual increase for assessment. In 2004, sales prices were going up and away...far more than in 2001. You obviously paid what you believed was a fair price and your taxing began on your assessed value.

Go to the property appraiser's site in your county and search the assessed values of both properties. I'm sure you'll see a difference.

[annerk]

Originally Posted by ACTS Mom

Maybe you should contact the county for a reevaluation of your taxable value -- not that it would do any good. That's quite different from the market value. There are limits on the annual increase for assessment. In 2004, sales prices were going up and away...far more than in 2001. You obviously paid what you believed was a fair price and your taxing began on your assessed value.

Go to the property appraiser's site in your county and search the assessed values of both properties. I'm sure you'll see a difference.

I have. Their "just vallue" is $100K lower than mine--and they have a larger home with a pool. Even with the $100K, my taxes shouldn't be $5K higher than theirs. But because of FLoridas crazy tax scheme, they are.

Then I compared to people with homes in isleworth worth over $2M, and guess what? Theya re paying the same amount I am. And the Orange and Lake taxes work out to be iwthin 2% of each other as far as millage goes. It's crazy.

[mango23]

Originally Posted by Mike Peterson

There is no need to remove the SOH nor institute a state tax.

Cut wasteful government spending and we should be able to reduce taxes not raise them.

There is no need for the Supervisor of Elections for my county to make over $100,000 a year nor the commissioners to make $60,000. Just eliminating useless jobs would bring the budget down to where it needs to be. After that we could eliminate the usless programs and get budget down to an more acceptable level.

Search: Broward Sheriff's Office overtime and base pay -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

[JimMe]

Originally Posted by annerk

Think about it. Someone who bought a house in 1985 for $100K--that house is now worth $800K yet they are paying taxes on it as if it were worth maybe $200K. For people in newer homes bought after 2002 or so you're not going to see a change. It's the people who have seen their property values appreciate substantially and their tax bill go up by a few hundred dollars that aren't carrying their share.

Property value is a concept that has no meaning except when one purchases or sells a property. People should pay taxes based on the value of the property when they bought it. Otherwise people can be property-taxed out of their homes just because property values have gone up. The fact that the value of your home has increased doesn't give you any more disposible income to pay increased property taxes. That applies especially to retired people. The time to tax the increase in value is when that property is sold. The advantage of doing this is that property tax assessors will not be burdened with making ongoing tax appraisals. They would only do it at point of sale and levy the tax on that sale.

[annerk]

Originally Posted by JimMe

Property value is a concept that has no meaning except when one purchases or sells a property. People should pay taxes based on the value of the property when they bought it. Otherwise people can be property-taxed out of their homes just because property values have gone up. The fact that the value of your home has increased doesn't give you any more disposible income to pay increased property taxes. That applies especially to retired people. The time to tax the increase in value is when that property is sold. The advantage of doing this is that property tax assessors will not be burdened with making ongoing tax appraisals. They would only do it at point of sale and levy the tax on that sale.

Nope. If everyone was paying an equitable share based on the current value of their home, the only people who would see their property taxes rise are the ones who are paying far below their fair share. Those of us who are shouldering a huge burden simply because we haven't been in the house as long would see our taxes decrease and be paying an equitable share. Adjusting value as you are implying doesn't work because a home could be worth 10 times what was paid for it before it was sold. Ridiculous!

[tallrick]

So what is wrong with giving everyone the same property values as equal SOH homes? That would be very fair!

[stars99]

I can see how SOH probably seemed like a good idea back when it was enacted, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions. It's like rent control, another idea which doesn't always work so well in the real world.

[tallrick]

I had a strangler fig in a sabal palm here. It started out as a cute little sprout and then grew into a tiny branch. Then a few roots grew down the tree, the roots got thicker and more numerous over time. Finally last year it had almost overwhelmed the tree. Cutting it down was difficult so I just cut off the roots. While they tried to regrow I kept at it. Finally it dried out and is now falling apart. Thus is the nature of government. If we can cut taxes eventually the strangler fig called government will stop growing and if we keep at it will die back, leaving us with our quality of life again. Why do people constantly beg for more taxes and a lower standard of living?

[ACTS Mom]

Tallrick: Brilliant concept!

Tried to give you reps, but have to spread it around first. But this is one of the best examples of government, big government, I've ever seen! Thank you.

[Mike1306]

Originally Posted by annerk

Nope. If everyone was paying an equitable share based on the current value of their home, the only people who would see their property taxes rise are the ones who are paying far below their fair share. Those of us who are shouldering a huge burden simply because we haven't been in the house as long would see our taxes decrease and be paying an equitable share. Adjusting value as you are implying doesn't work because a home could be worth 10 times what was paid for it before it was sold. Ridiculous!

If people move to an area before it is popular and before values increase people there have been in already paying taxes.

When you purchased you had a very good idea what your taxes would run and are just complaining now because someone is paying less.

You think taxes should be adjusted so that people that are just moving in should be equal to the people who have supported the community for years.

Just sounds like sour grapes to me.