New, Higher Taxes in Washington Co Tn (Johnson City, Jonesborough: property taxes, hotels)

[paisleynetn]

Just an update for all you looking to move to beautiful Washington County Tennessee (Johnson City is included and has it's own city property tax which is about the same as the county tax, yep, double the taxes if you have property in the city!)
Washington County has raised the tax rate to 2.35. For us, this means that our property, which is valued at $64,500 by the county now has a tax bill of $606.30. In 2005 the bill was $482.46--quite an increase and this doesn't include the $498.00 we paid to the city for the same property just a few weeks ago.
So just keep in mind that this area is growing FAST and that means taxes are going up FAST. Oh yea, have to mention the $50 per vehicle (is now $24)tax increase the county is trying to push thru. Thanks to alert citizens with petitions there will be a vote on this in a few months.
There is no state income tax but with a 9.75 sales tax and increasing property taxes (and vehicle taxes?) Tennesse sure isn't the great place to live like it was 14 years ago...when I moved here.

[jabogitlu]

I think you'll have trouble swaying the Floridians to keep away.

[fishgolf]

Uh oh!!! I really would like to hear input from mbMouse on all this---she seems to be on top of most things. And also...what vehicle taxes??!!?? Is this going to be another South Carolina type move that has made a lot of people unhappy? I'm starting to get nervous about my plans!

Merry Christmas to all of you and God bless.

[fishgolf]

mb....I know you're tired from the holidays and all your work on this forum but....could you please furnish some of your valuable input on the above? Please--and thank you.

[mbmouse]

Sorry, took some holiday time with the family and taking care of a sick hubby and sister in-law had surgery...been a BUSY few weeks here for me. I didn't mean to ignore anyone.
I had to go Friday to the courthouse to renew tags last week. I asked the tax office and yes, it is true, the Washington County tax rate went from $2.00 per $100 of assessed value to $2.35. We knew earlier in the year about the $0.13 increase for the 3 new schools that needed to be built. Not sure where they came up with and why they added the other $0.22? The city of Johnson City stayed the same at $1.93 and Jonesborough stayed at $1.54.
As for the vehicle tag and renewal fee, it is still at $24.00 per tag. They are going to vote at the next election on the increase. If I remember reading correctly quite a while back, any public vote to increase tax of any kind has never passed the vote in Washington County. So we will have to wait and see on that one.

Some interesting info about property taxes in Washington County I found out.
The tax rates have fluctuated up and down over the past 10 years. Here is a list of county tax rates (not including city) over the years, this is per $100 of assessed value:
1997 and 1998-$2.22
1999 to 2002- $1.93
2003 to 2005- $1.87
2006-$2.00
2007-$2.35

The assessment schedule is every 5 years with the last assessment of property values happened in 2004 and due again in 2009. Looking at the past rate changes down, I am wondering if the rate increase is directly in correlation with the lack of assessment increase so that it evens out?? I am not sure, I will have to make another trip/call to the court house and ask around and see what I can find out.
Am I surprised at a property tax increase? No, it has happened every where I have lived in any state. I do have to say I have NEVER seen a county decrease property taxes!! I was rather floored when doing the research to see that. Wonder if that will happen again in 2009?? I have only been in Washington County for 3 years now, before that it was Green Co. where my property taxes went up $1.00 per year for 6 years in a row. Not assesed value, the bill was exactly $1.00 more every year. Before that I rented in Jefferson County so never really paid attention to property taxes there. Anyone here lived in Washington Co. and paid property taxes longer than 10 years that could add here? GranyLois maybe???

[fishgolf]

Thank you, mb. I sincerely hope the hubby and your sister-in-law are doing fine.

Ok, so all in all the overall tax thing doesn't appear to be earth shattering, and the possible tag increase will be up to a vote....that's good, and I believe the way it should be for ALL taxes.

Now, do you know anything about a possible personal property tax on vehicles that I think the original poster alluded to? That can be monstrous and quite unfair, especially if it's year after year on a vehicle. I have some contacts in SC and they say it's time for a revolt because of it. Please tell me there are no leanings toward that kind of tax. Thanks so much and again, I hope everyone is well. Wishing you and all a great New Year!

[mbmouse]

I personally have not heard anything about any potential taxes on any personal property such as cars, boats and such. I believe the people would force that to a vote as well and it would not pass if it were proposed, but that is just my take on it. If I am not mistaken that would have to be a state thing, not county and state wide it would not pass vote for sure. If it were county wide, we would have an ghost town/county I believe.

[Tony1790]

Originally Posted by fishgolf

Ok, so all in all the overall tax thing doesn't appear to be earth shattering,

Wow, NOT earth shattering??? A 17.5% tax increase in one year on your home, and it's NOT earth shattering?? What would be earth shattering 50%?

Did anyone else get a 17.5% pay raise this year? Anyone? Then why does the government give itself a raise and if you can't pay, they'll take your home from you.

And some people worry about a possible monstrous car tax, I can do without a new car, I can't do without a place to live.

Tony

p.s. The same govt that raises the tax rate on your assessed value, is the same govt that gets to tell you how much that home of yours is worth and taxes you on a gain that you have not realized. i.e. They tax you on money that you have not gotten, and that you can only get if you sell. And then when you do sell, they'll tax you on the sale as well.

Can you tell that I'm not a big fan of big govt

[fishgolf]

Tony---the 17.5% is exactly right and.....actually I do agree with you. That's quite hefty! I was only using my term of "not earth shattering" because I've seen much larger tax increases and was only making my own comparisons. I'm fed up with taxes as much as the next person who's worked most of his/her life---and I can't take much more of big government running our lives either.

My question about personal tax on cars had nothing to do with a "new" car at all. It had to do with just about "any" car in the states that have the audacity to basically have a permanent tax on whatever one drives. That should be outlawed!

As far as the other things you've commented on, and commented on very strongly, in all honesty I can't say that I disagree with you at all.

Getting back to the original subject, Washington County may be scaring me a little bit. We'll see.

By the way, Tony, I'll assume you live in Washington Cty----correct?

[Tony1790]

Originally Posted by fishgolf

Tony---the 17.5% is exactly right and.....actually I do agree with you. That's quite hefty! I was only using my term of "not earth shattering" because I've seen much larger tax increases and was only making my own comparisons. I'm fed up with taxes as much as the next person who's worked most of his/her life---and I can't take much more of big government running our lives either.

My question about personal tax on cars had nothing to do with a "new" car at all. It had to do with just about "any" car in the states that have the audacity to basically have a permanent tax on whatever one drives. That should be outlawed!

As far as the other things you've commented on, and commented on very strongly, in all honesty I can't say that I disagree with you at all.

Getting back to the original subject, Washington County may be scaring me a little bit. We'll see.

By the way, Tony, I'll assume you live in Washington Cty----correct?

Hi again,

I'm actually homeless, been living out of hotels and my RV for the last 8 months, I wasn't able to land a job in TN prior to moving and now have a job that keeps me moving around the country, I don't even have permanent address. WA as in WA state, sorry for the confusion.

As to the tax on cars, NC has had that for years, sounds like SC has started it, correct? With TN bordering both states, they may want to import the practice who knows.

Don't get me started on taxes, they are the biggest waste and drain on the individual and our country, govt produces nothing, only consumes.

Take care,

Tony