'View Tax' Triggers Revolt in Rural New Hampshire

[Judi Lynn]

'View Tax' Triggers Revolt in Rural New Hampshire

November 01, 2005 — By Katharine Webster, Associated Press
ORFORD, N.H. — The one-room cabin David Bischoff built in a cow pasture three years ago has no electricity, no running water, no phone service and no driveway.

What it does have is a wide-open view of nearby hills and distant mountains -- which makes it seven times more valuable than if it had no view, according to the latest townwide property assessment. He expects his property taxes to shoot up accordingly.

Bischoff and other Orford residents bitterly call that a "view tax," and they are leading a revolt against it that has gained support in many rural towns in New Hampshire.

State officials say there is no such thing as a "view tax" -- it is a "view factor," and it has always been a part of property assessments. The only change is that views have become so valuable in some towns that assessors are giving them a separate line on appraisal records.
(snip/...)

http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=9140

[Warren Stupidity]

1. The problem in NH is its use of RET to fund the state government.

Property values most certainly are affected by location. DUH.

[pokercat999]

3. What would happen if the govt was required to purchase

the property at the assessed value, if demanded by the owner? My guess is that 100% would not sell as the assessed value is still far below the market value. That still doesn't address the problem of long time owners that are not well off but have inherited very valuable land. Why couldn't these taxes be based on the value of the land plus the ability of the land owner to pay?

Oh, that would be a "leftist" position.

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. I had the same on property in MA years ago.

They said ocean views enhanced the value of the home. I appealed it and they rolled it back.

[blackcatpgh]

4. i hate this kinda shit

sounds like a good way to get lower income people who are willing to live without "necessities" like running water & electricity to be priced (via taxes) off of land that can then be subdivided into mcmansion developments -- which will, of course, provide higher tax revenues.

i'd lump this one in with the awful eminent domain debacle.

[sendero]

5. Most property..

.... is taxed based on VALUE. A view would certainly enhance the value, as a lack of utilities would diminish it.

Most tax appraisal authorities try very hard to keep the assessed value a few percent below market value. Because the "ok if it's worth that much buy it for that" argument has been used successfully many many times, I've used it myself.

[toopers]

6. Why aren't they using comparable sales in the area?

That is the only real way to determine the value of a property. This is rediculous. I hope the NH'ers do revolt.

[maxanne]

7. it doesn't matter

we use property taxes to fund our state government, because we don't have an income or sales tax. As a result, we're always looking for new fees and boondoggles to keep the money trickling in, so we don't need to ask the millionaires to pay their fair share.