[joeltrout]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('ROCKMAN', '
')I've heard for some time that CA prop txs were some of the lowest thanks to a public vote some years ago.

[deMolay]

I can see the unionized Police fighting this one. As well as the Gubmint workers. http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=7254270&ref=patrick.net

[frankthetank]

We just voted in a mayor and the reason he won was based on his property tax stand (lowering them)... We pay high property taxes up here!

[MarkJ]

Rather than revolt, many of the middle class, upper middle class, wealthy and businesses simply cut and run rather than constantly fighting ridiculously high assessments and tax rates.

Even if they lowered assessments to actual market value, plus slashed budgets substantially, the tax rate in many regions would still be far too high to stop flight to areas with much lower taxes and a better quality of life.

[vision-master]

lower taxes = lower paying jobs or no jobs.

[MarkJ]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vision-master', 'l')ower taxes = lower paying jobs or no jobs.

[Tyler_JC]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vision-master', 'l')ower taxes = lower paying jobs or no jobs.

[vision-master]

New Yark don't coun't.................

[gnm]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vision-master', 'N')ew Yark don't coun't.................

[MarkJ]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')he county (Saratoga) can spend the money without raising most tax bills, officials said, because of its continued residential and commercial growth. It has been among the fastest growing counties in the state for 40 years, and has added $1.3 billion to the tax base in the last year.

[deMolay]

Just found this one on You-tube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gv4OeKmWjOI

[Tyler_JC]

The New York vs Texas question is just one example. I could draw a dozen comparisons.

Think about New Hampshire versus Massachusetts. One state has as its motto, "live free or die". The other one is known as "Taxachusetts".

Massachusetts has high income taxes, high sales taxes, and a strong welfare state.

New Hampshire has no income taxes, no sales taxes, and few government services (relative to its neighbor).

Which state gained 60,000 people over the past decade? And which one lost 335,000?

Massachusetts has a 2.5% higher unemployment rate.

And, believe it or not, New Hampshire has more economic equality than Massachusetts. NH is actually the third most egalitarian state in the country.

Lastly, the 2007 poverty rate in Massachusetts was 11.2%. New Hampshire, 5.8%.

And the best part about this example, compared to the Texas/NY example, is that it is very easy to move from Mass to NH. People do it all the time.

As for property tax revolts. We are currently experiencing one in Massachusetts. In order for a town to raise its property tax rate more than 2.5% in any given year, they need voter approval. This year, the towns aren't getting it.

[MarkJ]

I've hired an attorney to fight the many of my assessments since I was a teenager. I used to buy a lot of distressed or vacant properties in regions where properties were often assessed at 2X Plus actual market value. Since they had little residential/commercial construction, expansion and renovation, they'd inflate appraisals to prevent raising tax rates and cutting budgets.

The inflated assessments also give them wiggle room. Joe Six Pack is often happy when they reduce his assessment buy 20K although his property is over-assessed by 50K Plus. They bank on the fact that many people still won't grieve their taxes, challenge their assessment in court, or cut and run.

[Ludi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MarkJ', 'T')hey bank on the fact that many people still won't grieve their taxes, challenge their assessment in court, or cut and run.

[MarkJ]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ludi', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MarkJ', 'T')hey bank on the fact that many people still won't grieve their taxes, challenge their assessment in court, or cut and run.

[Ludi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MarkJ', '
')When I've grieved my own taxes, often the assessors office has reduced my assessment before my court date.

[vtsnowedin]

The difference in taxation between New Hampshire and Massachusetts is not as big as the NH politicians would have you believe.True there is no general sales or income tax but there is 'Business profits tax' 'Dividends and interest tax', ' Town tax on car registrations, 'A real estate transfer tax' and county property taxes on top of town and school property taxes.
And then you have tens of thousands that live as far north as the Concord area that commute to Boston for work that travel on toll roads that are only now getting their first major upgrade after their initial construction in the 50s. But if the traffic is backed up AGAIN you can pull into the rest area by the toll plaza and stock up on cheap booze ,lottery tickets and cigarettes in the state owed and operated liquor store.
The two largest things you buy and might pay sales tax on are your home and car. The real estate transfer tax wacks you and the seller when you buy a house and of course there are a few NOMINAL fees if you need a permit to do any upgrading. There is no sales tax when you buy a car but when you try to Register it you must pay the town you reside in a tax based on its value before you can pay for and get you state tags. It goes down each year but over the life of the car it amounts to a 6% sales tax or at least it was the last time I crunched the numbers on a real car. It might be higher today. So there you have perhaps fifty percent of your income exposed to a sales tax but go to the big box stores and your saving big bucks right? Wrong. There is that pesky little business profits tax the stores have to pay. It isn't on a separate line on the receipt but like Prego sauce its IN THERE. When I built my house I shopped for a name brand window in both NH and VT. The price of the windows delivered with the tax paid in VT was less then the pick up price of the same windows over the line in NH.
The jails, court houses, and government nursing homes are run by the counties and paid for by a county property tax collected by the towns and passed on to them. And of course you have your ever popular schools police and fire/ rescue departments funded out of town property taxes.
And then you retire and try to live on whats left of your investment portfolio. Don't forget to pay your dividends and interest tax. You didn't really have to work for that money so you don't mind sending a little to the state do you. You have so much and others have so little.
If you add up Every tax dollar leaving nothing out then you have very similar levels of taxation and per capita government spending.
What NH does have is a very low level of corruption. People really show up and do their job for the money. No political hacks and union thugs pulling down sixty large for a no show no work job. Makes all the difference in the world.

[vision-master]

The tax assessor stopped by house a few Months ago. I talked him into lowering my assessed value.

[dsula]

I own a decent amount of land. Paying my property tax I realize that without a job I won't be able to pay the tax.
If I loose the job my plan of going into low-power survival mode living of the land won't work because I can't pay the tax.

How are you guys who own land handle this ?

[ian807]

I rent out the land, well, housing, and have someone else pay it. If I had a lot of "land" land, I might rent it out for farming, hunting or recreation. Perhaps put a fish pond on it and charge to fish in it. That's what some local farmers did where I grew up. It really depends on the location and characteristics of the land in question.