It's property tax time. (Sacramento, Oakland: sales, movies, school district)

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by davidt1

There are two library taxes: a core library tax and an additional library tax. Aren't libraries obsolete already? Who goes to the library these days?

Lots of people. (I go to ours at least once a week.)

I can't wait to see what special levy they come up with for homeowners in 2018.

They go up a small amount each year. If you call the number on your bill, they will explain each of the assessments to you.

[JGC97]

My tax bill came today and I double checked it, as I always do, because it also went up this year. The land and structure were adjusted at the 2% max due to Prop 13 (thank you lord!) but the main increase came from a new school bond that was voter approved last November. That added an addition $90. Still paying for three previous school bonds so now it's four. <sigh> The entire bill only increased by $126.

Those sneaky voter approved bonds, direct assessments and special assessments will sneak up on you which is why you want to be sure how your "yes" vote will affect you, personally.

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by kettlepot

I bet Ultrarunner lives in Alameda County. As a core part of the People's Republic, they vote to approve every tax increase.

Worse when it comes to property tax... Oakland CA which can be 50% higher than Alameda county proper like Castro Valley.

[evening sun]

This is why I always vote no on the bond measures.

[davidt1]

Originally Posted by HereOnMars

My tax bill came today and I double checked it, as I always do, because it also went up this year. The land and structure were adjusted at the 2% max due to Prop 13 (thank you lord!) but the main increase came from a new school bond that was voter approved last November. That added an addition $90. Still paying for three previous school bonds so now it's four. <sigh> The entire bill only increased by $126.

Those sneaky voter approved bonds, direct assessments and special assessments will sneak up on you which is why you want to be sure how your "yes" vote will affect you, personally.

So the land and structure of your property only increased by $36? If that is 2% of the assessed value, then your property must be very inexpensive.

[JGC97]

Originally Posted by davidt1

So the land and structure of your property only increased by $36? If that is 2% of the assessed value, then your property must be very inexpensive.

The assessed value is low because I've owned the home for a while and when home prices weren't at where they are today. Just because a house may sell for 400K doesn't mean the property taxes reflect that. They are based on the purchase price and can only see an assessed increase of 2% per year. They will only adjust at the higher rate, once the house is sold again. (hope that makes sense)

This is a primary reason why someone should stay in their home, add on to it and/or remodel it. It helps keep your taxes low.

Oh and the homeowner's exemption, although only amounts to $70 (of the $7,000 exemption) helps a little too.

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

I've always thought it was wrong that people who don't own real property could vote to approve fees that only property owners would have to pay. That just seems so wrong. Time for a revolt!

Used to drive me nuts when I lived in a condo I owned in Davis, CA, because the 35,000 or so UC Davis students would vote to approve things that only property owners had to pay. Just wrong.

[JGC97]

Originally Posted by NoMoreSnowForMe

I've always thought it was wrong that people who don't own real property could vote to approve fees that only property owners would have to pay. That just seems so wrong. Time for a revolt!

Used to drive me nuts when I lived in a condo I owned in Davis, CA, because the 35,000 or so UC Davis students would vote to approve things that only property owners had to pay. Just wrong.

Don't think they don't pay even if they don't own property. They pay by way of rent increases.

[Astoriahoney]

After seeing the property taxes in Texas i'm grateful at the low taxes I pay in California.

[davidt1]

Originally Posted by Astoriahoney

After seeing the property taxes in Texas i'm grateful at the low taxes I pay in California.

They don't have income taxes there. High earners do better there. My ex-neighbor in Houston is a doctor making over $200K a year. She lives in a $150K 2,300 sf house. The roughly $5K she pays in property taxes there is a lot less than what her income tax would be in CA.