But do we really own property when the local government can step in and take it away if we fail to pay taxes on it every year ?
People rant about income taxes, but at least those taxes are only paid once — at the time the income is received. You spend what is left over (after you’ve paid taxes on that income) on property, and then you have to pay taxes on the property every year forever ? Usually with no control over what value some faceless bureaucrat assigns to your property ? To me, that makes property taxes the most evil of all taxes.
If you think about estate taxes, you will realize that income is not just taxed once. There is a web of taxes woven around anyone having property or income.
On income, you pay regular state and federal taxes - and in some places, county or municipal taxes. In addition, there are Medicare taxes and Social Security taxes taken before you see your check. When you go to spend “your” money, there are sales taxes, again, perhaps, at several levels. If you try to grow your money, then you will pay income taxes on dividends or interest. If you are too good at growing your money, your estate will be charged for that, too.
“and then you have to pay taxes on the property every year forever...”
Your post allows me to say this (This is not directed at you, Kellis):
You stupid conservatives sat on your fat asses for 40 years, never attending local council meetings or county board meetings. Now you bitch because property taxes are high.
Well, surprise, surprise. You, you dumb-bunny conservatives, allowed left wing Marxists to take over your local government because you were too busy fishing, adding an addition to the kitchen or working overtime to make more money.
I worked in local government for years, and it was impossible to get you up off your butts and devote one hour a month attending local government meetings. Then when your taxes went through the roof and you couldn’t nail a picture on the wall without paying off a fat bureaucrat, you sat around scratching your ass wondering how that happened.
Duh!
If you want local taxes reduced, run for your local council seat. If you don’t want some bureaucrat telling you that it’s illegal to cut down a tree, show up at your county land use board (which shouldn’t exist in the first place) and start screaming at these fascist pigs. Go to these meetings by the hundreds and tell these pigs that you’re the boss and their happy rides on your backs ends NOW!
Get up off your fat butts and take back your neighborhoods. Then you won’t see high property taxes. And you’ll be much happier, too.