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A 94 year old grandmother moved to an assisted living facility and felt behind on property taxes of her condo. She owed $15K. The county seized the property and sold it for $40K and kept the money. This is known as home equity theft by the government.
She sued and the case made it way to the SC where it was ruled in her favor by a unanimous decision. I know this case is not very exciting or controversial, but it is an important one nonetheless. People can fall behind on property taxes for a number of reasons: medical emergency; loss of a job; loss of income.
The government can sell the property to get the unpaid taxes, but not a cent more. That's essentially what the SC said when it handed down the ruling. I am beginning to appreciate the SC more and more. They are the last line of defense against government abuse.
I'd also like to say that property taxes should be based on your purchased price and not be tied to current market value.
At the VERY least, property taxes should be frozen for seniors. I can think of a dozen seniors off the top of my head in my local area who are being faced with the very real possibility of having to sell their homes because of the increase in property taxes.
Great news! A win for the common man. Now if they would only make a ruling on civil forfeiture abuses (I don't know if there are any cases awaiting on their docket).
I'd also like to say that property taxes should be based on your purchased price and not be tied to current market value.
At the VERY least, property taxes should be frozen for seniors. I can think of a dozen seniors off the top of my head in my local area who are being faced with the very real possibility of having to sell their homes because of the increase in property taxes.
It's a sad situation.
There are many counties where restrictions are placed on raising property taxes on seniors, or state regulating counties from raising them above a % over prior year for everybody...like Florida.
Some counties eliminate the property taxes going to schools for 65+'ers, & that reduces the property tax load by ~75%...see Forsyth County, Georgia as just 1 example.
It is disgusting that some government officials found this practice to be acceptable to begin with. In a sane society, those involved would long be jobless.
Homes seized for taxes shouldn't even be sold at auction. Auctions are simply a mechanism to allow insiders to get the home for a bargain price. These homes should be sold at arm's length by reputable realtors.
Status:
"I don't understand. But I don't care, so it works out."
(set 12 days ago)
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And now just make it illegal for towing companies to have a contract to vacate your car from private property, and charge so much per diem that low income car owners can't get their car out of hock, ever, until a couple weeks later when the tow company now owns their car.
And now just make it illegal for towing companies to have a contract to vacate your car from private property, and charge so much per diem that low income car owners can't get their car out of hock, ever, until a couple weeks later when the tow company now owns their car.
Same principle.
Not even close to the same principle.
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