property taxes have been billed.....

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by artvandelay

I think people are pleased because they have come to expect being overcharged, ie values go down but not taxes.

Taxes can only go down if expenses do. They have cut expenses quite a bit in most cities and the county, but there is a limit. Roads have to be maintained, police, fire services must go on etc. I think I benefit from a good community college system. I don't feel overcharged. I pay the HOA almost as much as I do all the local governments and get far less from them, and HOA fees go UP every year regardless of my home value or the economy. The HOA could take a lesson from the government. And don't get me started on APS!

[MGotcha]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

Taxes can only go down if expenses do. They have cut expenses quite a bit in most cities and the county, but there is a limit. Roads have to be maintained, police, fire services must go on etc. I think I benefit from a good community college system. I don't feel overcharged. I pay the HOA almost as much as I do all the local governments and get far less from them, and HOA fees go UP every year regardless of my home value or the economy. The HOA could take a lesson from the government. And don't get me started on APS!

Sounds like a poorly managed HOA (seems to be a lot of that).
My taxes are up 25% since 2005 (70% since 2000), but my HOA has increased 10%. I definitely have not seen a 25% improvement in government services (they did redo some perfectly good streets and sidewalks nearby.. likely a product of "economic stimulus") but my HOA accomplished some much needed pool improvements for my 10%. My property taxes are more than my HOA and home owner's insurance combined, and is my largest single expense (followed closely by my APS bill!!). Still cheap compared to other parts of the country...

[LBTRS]

Mine increased by $380 this year yet my property value declined by $10,000 this year.

[randian]

Originally Posted by LBTRS

Mine increased by $380 this year yet my property value declined by $10,000 this year.

That happens when your assessed value is less than market value.

[observer53]

My assessed value has ALWAYS been less than market value. Mine went up about $60, assessed value down 18-20,000; I haven't compared the bills to see what the source is... budget override in school district, other increases in one or more of all the taxes that get rolled into the bill.

[Stokes172]

Same thing here..assesed value dropped but taxes went up a few bucks.

My properties have never been assessed what they are really worth. Up here it's a bit of a joke as property assessments are as much as 10 or 15 percent below what the market is getting for the same type of property.

People who try to make an offer on a property using the assessed value get laughed at.

[talich]

My assessed value dropped $50,000+, yet the tax is only $170 less.

[rose8989]

They don't just pick out a number and raise taxes to match it. Folks expect a level of service from their government and the cost to provide that service does not go down just because property values do. Courts still run, jails and libraries are still open. The board of supervisors can only do so much belt tightening.(ask an employee if they have any hope of a raise or how many co-workers have they seen get laid off) They really can't do much about how other elected officials run things and how much in litigation costs they run up. We elect them so they don't have to answer to the BOS like other employees. Property taxes are a necessary evil to continue the standards we expect from government

Originally Posted by MGotcha

Don't expect your taxes to go down a lot.

Valuations on which your taxes are assessed have plummeted, so the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors have jacked up the tax rate to ensure the city can meet it's ever growing budget. Your valuation may have dropped 20%, but you may only see a 5% drop in your tax. They pretty much dream up a budget, then set the tax rate to meet it. Kind of like going to your boss and demanding a raise because you need more money. Funny how the tax rate did not drastically get reduced when valuations (and taxes) doubled during the housing boom. They just pumped up the Budget instead, and aim to keep it there!

[roosevelt]

Originally Posted by MGotcha

Don't expect your taxes to go down a lot.

Valuations on which your taxes are assessed have plummeted, so the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors have jacked up the tax rate to ensure the city can meet it's ever growing budget. Your valuation may have dropped 20%, but you may only see a 5% drop in your tax. They pretty much dream up a budget, then set the tax rate to meet it. Kind of like going to your boss and demanding a raise because you need more money. Funny how the tax rate did not drastically get reduced when valuations (and taxes) doubled during the housing boom. They just pumped up the Budget instead, and aim to keep it there!

The higher they raise property tax, the more houses fall in price; house mortgages are based on how much a month the lender approves you for; higher taxes means they have to approve you for lower monthly house payments which means lower house prices which is not going to really help anyone. A friend of mine said her value went down but the tax went up!

I recall in the past, warehouses in downtown Los Angeles had so much back tax owing that they couldn't sell the places for the amount of the back tax.