Senior citizen property tax work-off program is a winner

Asheville Citizen-Times (link in article, cannot copy directly) ^ | 1-12-2008 | Ron M. Mitchell,

[grey_whiskers]

Link below: Senior citizen property tax work-off program is a winner

due to copyright issues.

[grey_whiskers]

Hillaire Belloc wrote a book in 1913 -- before the Communist Revolution -- called The Servile State.

He foresaw a future resulting from the clash of socialism and capitalism in which some people would be forced to work for the benefit of others.

Looks like it is coming to pass.

Working in retirement, because you didn't save enough to support yourself in old age, is one thing.

Working merely to pay "the tax bill" is quite another.

Cheers!

[pnh102]

More reason that the only real tax reform we need in this country is a constitutional amendment to ban property taxes.

[B4Ranch]

Reduction of government wouldn’t require the humongous taxes we have today.

[pnh102]

Reduction of government wouldn’t require the humongous taxes we have today.

I keep dreaming of that too. However, when have local property taxes ever gone down? My town and county are run by Republicans and property taxes keep going up. In our elections, I can choose between these people and Socialists who will raise my taxes even more. Clearly, no one running for these positions is interested in reducing the size of government.

Banning the property tax would force changes in local government. At the very least, taxing income and consumption spreads the burden more evenly.

[B4Ranch]

The GOP has become socialist. I have no idea what the solution is anymore.

[Alright_on_the_LeftCoast]

I wouldn’t call forced enslavery of the elderly a successful program...after paying property taxes their entire life, rather than a senior citizen tax break, they would rather force them to work at low wages in order to stay in their homes they worked their entire lives for...this is sickening, time for civil war yet?? Any journalist that sees this as a success is a f’kn idiot.

[Tax-chick]

Any journalist that sees this as a success is a f’kn idiot.

Redundancy alert!

[BlazingArizona]

If this program is so successful, why not have the city try a higer-value operation, like growing cotton?

[Traveler59]

I have mixed feelings about this. Property taxes are used by the locale (city/county/state) to provide services such as fire, police, roads, schools, etc. If all senior citizen taxes were removed from the tax roles, a heavily large retirement community would be hard pressed to maintain the services for the population of that locale. There is also the possibility of seniors buying expensive homes just because they don't have to pay these property taxes. So basically I'm not against property taxes (excessive taxes are another story). Now, having said all that, the state I'm a resident of (Florida) does allow not only a homestead exemption ($25,000) if you're a permanent Florida resident, but also an additional exemption of up to $50,000 if you are over 65. Right now I'm in my early 50's so this will affect me in a few years. Currently my assessed $85K home is only taxed at $60K, and will be taxed at $10 - 15K when I reach 65 years old. People need to check with their respective states to see what exemptions are available to them and how they apply. Other wise they will end up paying the full amount every time.

-Traveler

[OldMissileer]

We now have reestablished indentured servitude.

[clyde asbury]

I’m OK with this program as long as they’re allowed to legally sell currently-prohibited drugs at prohibition-level street prices.