Are you being TAXED out of your home???? (Austin, Alamo: RV park, new home)

[texasdreamin]

FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! or nothing will change.

I went to the Governor's web site and sent a long email about how the assessors are really out of control with their assessments. Told him people are being taxed out of their homes. Talked about the schools and multimillion dollar stadiums. Made a suggestion that properties should be assessed not on market value but on purchase value. I also informed him that if his office can't step up to making change, then the citizens will start contacting the office of the President. And folks...even if it doesn't get anywhere...at least I made an effort to try...and I don't even live there, yet. Start squeaking. All it takes is a few minutes to send an email to your elected officials. Very easy to do.

[mastercone]

Originally Posted by dendox

I feel like you are missing my point - which wasn't really obvious (after reading my post again).

I did see the ambiguity in your post.

Originally Posted by dendox

I am content with the appraisal value on my home because I feel it accurately reflects its value/worth. Like I said, if you don't think it is accurate because it is way more than you could get SHOULD you choose to sell it, then protest it.

That was my major point.

Point well taken. It is very difficult to prevail on values alone in a protest. You would almost have to burn the home down and they probably would still insist on a partial value for the foundation.

Originally Posted by dendox

Also - your theory that says - we can all just say no and they will make due. Uh yeah sure. IF we lived in an ideal fictional place we could pull something like that off. I am sure you didn't mean literally, but if people don't pay their home taxes they lose their homes.

That is one process the government is plenty fast to act on. If they want your money bad enough your house is theirs.

That's not what I said. If taxpayers would band together and VOTE against all of these bonds and demand that city hall or the county cut taxes then we would have accountability. As it is they have money for everything. Anytime there is an endless amount of taxpayer cash available, there is waste. I guarantee you they are wasting money all over this county when it could go to things that would make our lives easier.

Try to remember, the government works for us. We don't work for the government. Ask yourself, are you getting your money's worth?

[mastercone]

Amen, my friend. It's the ONLY to change this status quo.

Originally Posted by texasdreamin

FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! or nothing will change.

I went to the Governor's web site and sent a long email about how the assessors are really out of control with their assessments. Told him people are being taxed out of their homes. Talked about the schools and multimillion dollar stadiums. Made a suggestion that properties should be assessed not on market value but on purchase value. I also informed him that if his office can't step up to making change, then the citizens will start contacting the office of the President. And folks...even if it doesn't get anywhere...at least I made an effort to try...and I don't even live there, yet. Start squeaking. All it takes is a few minutes to send an email to your elected officials. Very easy to do.

[hello13685]

If San Antonians were really upset about rising property taxes, they would not try so hard to sell Californians (and others) on moving here and inflating the market. But that's all stabilizing now, so I think that the rising property tax problem may be taking care of itself.

[imaterry78259]

Is it true that you only pay property taxes in California once, when you purchase your home.

[imaterry78259]

Where can I find the NEISD annual financial statements?

[googie2525]

This has happened to a friend of mine. He bought a wreck of a home in Terrell Hills years ago and has worked on the house over the years on his own (a real labor of love), making it basically just livable. Now that the values have skyrocketed in Terrell Hills (really, the LOT is the valuable part, the house is not), he's trying to sell it and move to another area because his taxes are over 1200 a month! He simply can't afford it living on a musicians budget. He doesn't want to sell, but is FORCED to do so - that sucks.

[pobre]

Interim Financials (210) 804-7111 (http://www.neisd.net/fina/if.html - broken link)

FWIW, other than the huge outlays in purchasing land and building school, there are also many layers in NEISD (and other) districts that require funding. Not saying whether it's good or bad. In the business world, as in the academic, there is the "economy of scale" factor- the larger that you are, generally it costs less per unit to produce, etc.

Originally Posted by imaterry78259

Where can I find the NEISD annual financial statements?

[JNA]

Originally Posted by imaterry78259

Is it true that you only pay property taxes in California once, when you purchase your home.

In CA, we pay 1-1.5% per year, but it's based on the purchase price of the home. As the prices are so much higher for a home here, though, you would end up paying more property taxes here (in dollars) than in San Antonio for a similar house.

For example, I'm paying 6,000 in property taxes/year for a 1,600 sq ft home that is 60 miles from downtown L.A. Even at 3%, I doubt that a home 60 miles from downtown SA would cost nearly that much in property taxes, as most 1,600 sq ft homes in SA are not 200K (esp. that far from downtown).

[texasdreamin]

My property tax in California is only 1.17%...city tax, school tax, sewer tax, esd and everything else. I am assessed on purchase price, not market price...so my taxes are only $2500/yr. That is where Texas is really getting people. They need to assess on purchase price, not market price.

Another place to write: Texas Association of Appraisal Districts, and let them know you are fed up with the out of control appraisals that are taxing people out of their homes:
[url]http://www.taad.org[url].