[SVTCobra03]

I hate property taxes with a passion. I have no mortgage on my house but I still have to pay rent to the government in the form of property taxes. Why should I have to pay taxes on something just because I own it?

[old and tired]

I hate property taxes with a passion.

Of all the taxes I pay, property taxes bother me the least although we never sent a single one of our 11 kids to public school. Property tax dollars I can see in action. We have a top notch police force who keeps our town safe, well plowed, well paved streets, and a highly rated school district who keeps our property values high. During their school days my kids got their non religious text books, and the big kids got busses to their high schools.

Compare that to my state and federal income tax dollars. I get nothing from them.

[fwdude]

I have no mortgage on my house but I still have to pay rent to the government in the form of property taxes. Why should I have to pay taxes on something just because I own it?

My thoughts as well. Perhaps the answer is that we really don't absolutely own it! Our possession of it is ultimately at the whim of an insatiable government.

If anything, a property tax should be of a non-opressively nominal amount. Or, a pay-for-public-services-as-used system.

[Smokin' Joe]

I hate property taxes with a passion. I have no mortgage on my house but I still have to pay rent to the government in the form of property taxes. Why should I have to pay taxes on something just because I own it?

To add to that injury, they decide what your house is worth, even if you have no intention of selling it, and tax you on what some fool might pay for it if it was on the market.

The most your home should be taxed on is what you paid for it.

[The Antiyuppie]

The story I got in grade school was that the big difference between the systems governing the US and USSR was the private ownership of land. With property taxes approaching 10% in some areas of the US, the truth is, that there is virtually no difference. If you want to find out who REALLY owns your property, just don’t pay taxes on it for a bit.

[D Rider]

I hate property taxes with a passion. I have no mortgage on my house but I still have to pay rent to the government in the form of property taxes. Why should I have to pay taxes on something just because I own it?

Bwahh Ha Ha Ha, you own it! That's a good one!

[oh8eleven]

I hate property taxes with a passion.
Can't say I disagree, but it's the tax rate I hate, not the actual tax.
For my tax dollars I get street lights, sidewalks, a sewer system, a police force, plowed streets in winter, schools, clean water, a library, etc.
It's the outrageous public employees' salaries and benefits that are killing us.

[ridesthemiles]

The key part of this story is that THE SCHOOL BOARD is in charge of setting the property taxes. Thewy have the largest chronic appetite of all.

The same issue is coming to a head in Washoe County in Nevada.

The single person head of the school board would have the authority to set/raise & determine the property tax rates in all of Washoe county. Many homeowners are up in arms over such complete authority.