Property Taxes & Mexico (Austin: sales, apartment, rent)

[Biscuits]

Since I see many posts concerned with the property tax situation in Austin, I thought I would bring up a subject that some may be overlooking.

Austin (and Texas in general) is quite a popular long-term destination for Mexicans. This is a trend that is projected to proceed at a brisk pace that will continue to place specific stresses on Austin's schools, hospitals, and criminal justice system.

I don't see how this trend can do anything but increase a property tax burden that is already considered high by many people on this forum. The 'Robin Hood' school finance system insures that no Texas property tax payer can avoid the statewide predicament.

Taken to the extreme, I can envision a day where there is enough political power behind this group to start pushing for "wealth redistribution" via a state income tax.

Since federal taxes aren't specific to Austin, I'll save my rant regarding the inevitability of their increase as well. If you enjoy facing reality, here is a fun link:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/...n2528226.shtml

[TXknitter]

Actually, I think what would be more likely to happen is that Congress will decide (and there is already talk on this) that it just isn't "fair" for some states to not pay income tax. I would imagine some states with no income tax will one day be a thing of the past.

[Drover]

Whether a state has an income tax or not is none of Congress' business.

[stillkit]

Well, this is a new low in illegal bashing. Now our rising property taxes are their fault too!

I don't doubt that the increasing population of Texas, including illegals, will inevitably lead to higher property taxes, but to single out just that one group for the "blame" entirely overlooks a couple of salient facts:

1. Propery taxes are high because of the services we demand. We WANT good roads, good schools, parks, green spaces, community centers, fire and police protection, water and sewer systems. All that has to be paid for by property and sales taxes. If you use any of them, you're at least as big a part of the problem as are illegals.

2. Even illegals have to live somewhere and whether they rent or buy, they still will pay their share of the property taxes.

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by stillkit

Well, this is a new low in illegal bashing. Now our rising property taxes are their fault too!

I don't doubt that the increasing population of Texas, including illegals, will inevitably lead to higher property taxes, but to single out just that one group for the "blame" entirely overlooks a couple of salient facts:

1. Propery taxes are high because of the services we demand. We WANT good roads, good schools, parks, green spaces, community centers, fire and police protection, water and sewer systems. All that has to be paid for by property and sales taxes. If you use any of them, you're at least as big a part of the problem as are illegals.

2. Even illegals have to live somewhere and whether they rent or buy, they still will pay their share of the property taxes.

Indeed? There are many instances where several families or individuals are crammed into one house or apartment. That is hardly what I consider an equitable share.

[Danilo-11]

Originally Posted by Cathy4017

[/b]

Indeed? There are many instances where several families or individuals are crammed into one house or apartment. That is hardly what I consider an equitable share.

I think that's called ..... uhhh.... what's that word....
freedom to do whatever you want with your property

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by Danilo-11

I think that's called ..... uhhh.... what's that word....
freedom to do whatever you want with your property

If they're RENTING, it's NOT their property.

They have no right to be here in the first place, so that's moot.

But that has never made any difference to either them or those who employ them.

And yeah, I grew up 100 miles from the US-Mexico border, and still live within 90 miles of that border, so I'm familiar with the problems.

[lonestar2007]

Originally Posted by stillkit

Well, this is a new low in illegal bashing. Now our rising property taxes are their fault too!

I don't doubt that the increasing population of Texas, including illegals, will inevitably lead to higher property taxes, but to single out just that one group for the "blame" entirely overlooks a couple of salient facts:

1. Propery taxes are high because of the services we demand. We WANT good roads, good schools, parks, green spaces, community centers, fire and police protection, water and sewer systems. All that has to be paid for by property and sales taxes. If you use any of them, you're at least as big a part of the problem as are illegals.

2. Even illegals have to live somewhere and whether they rent or buy, they still will pay their share of the property taxes.

I fail to see where the OP is singling out illegals to place the blame of higher property taxes entirely on them. But you are extremely naive to think even for one moment that the influx of illegals have no impact on the state's ability to maintain all of the above services you mentioned. The more people using these services, the more the cost to maintain and the money has to come from some source (or sources) with the most logical one being property taxes. Or heck, what do I know? Maybe it grows on trees down here in Texas just for this very purpose.

Maybe you don't get the part of the picture that says 'illegal'. Obviously I need to go back to school as I just don't seem to comprehend the problem people have when understanding what it means to be illegal.

Originally Posted by Danilo-11

I think that's called ..... uhhh.... what's that word....
freedom to do whatever you want with your property

Illegals rent. So, like Cathy says, not their property. Why would an illegal buy property in a foreign country even if they could? They face the daily chance of being caught, loaded up and exported.

Furthermore, you would be shocked at the number of bodies they can cram into a small space, it is amazing how they can survive in the situations they do.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by Danilo-11

I think that's called ..... uhhh.... what's that word....
freedom to do whatever you want with your property

Freedom to do whatever you want with your property except us wanting to keep ours.

Nice - they can demand whatever they want that is ours, but they can do their own thing when it comes to theirs.

[malamute]

It's naive to think we can take in unlimited numbers of impoverished people, allow anyone at all to come here illegally and provide them nothing but the best hospitals, the best schools, the best standard of living the taxpayers can provide, accomodate their very high birth rates and believe that this can be good in the end.