What taxes are being raised where you live?

[Stinky The Clown]

The Repubs see tax increases as anathema, politically, but they know they have to be levied. So they cut taxes and, as a result, leave the jurisdiction they govern destitute. Along comes the Democrat, who has to raise them.

While this plays out on the national stage, it is most acute at the local level.

Our previous repub governor instituted some "fees". And that ploy was okay for the unwashed masses who supported him. Now that he's gone and we have Democrats in power again, we hear about tax increases. The nooz reports it that way and, inexplicably, the Dems describe them that way.

Of course, local taxes have to go up because a balanced budget is mandated and the feds are broke. We either cut services (for us, it might have been fire and cops and schools) or we raise taxes.

I have NEVER seen this work in reverse, where the repub is faced with dire straights if their taxes stay flat.



What is playing out in your area? We just got a soft drink tax (which I actually favor, but that's another story).

[ejpoeta]

1. ooh where to start. i live in ny. nuff said.

they already raised the fees for things. going to raise the cigarette taxes again i guess.... talking about reinstating the tax on clothes that they cut a few years ago. keep hearing about a tax on sugary beverages. i'm sure that's not all. of course we don't even have a budget yet, so....

[me b zola]

2. We voted to tax the rich...and we won! n/t

[Stinky The Clown]

3. Where are you?

[me b zola]

10. Oregon

http://www.seattlepi.com/connelly/414785_joel29.html

[hobbit709]

4. In the last 20 years, property taxes have gone up the wazoo.

In 1990 the taxes were less than $400, last year they were $2500+. Income is 40% of what it was in 1990. The house is valued at 3 times the valuation of 1990 but the tax rate went to the maximum under the law. And I'm getting less for the money too. Services are cut back, road and street maintenance is a joke. And lets not forget the fees. As far as I'm concerned an involuntary fee for something that used to be covered by the taxes IS A TAX. But they can brag about how they didn't increase taxes.

[county worker]

6. Generally real estate taxes are based on property values.

As values go up, taxes go up. During the housing bubble values increased dramatically so did the taxes. Now has values are falling taxes should fall too. Counties have to reassess property values and thus lower taxes.

Like everything else, the cost of services increase. If revenues don't increase and costs go up, then services have to be reduced since by law local governments must have a balanced budget. Also when tax revenues are high, local governments build up reserves for the bad times ahead.

[hobbit709]

8. Valuation of property only tripled

Tax rate more than tripled, so it's a double whammy. And valuation hasn't dropped yet even though selling prices have dropped. My new estimated tax bill will be $150 more than what I paid last year even though assessed value is the same. When you're surviving on limited income, it ain't easy.

[Stinky The Clown]

9. You're absolutely right. "Fees" are a right wing scam.

[sandnsea]

5. We won a school levy last year -- but

The Republican school board turned around and cut the very teachers we promised to save last year. They are so determined to have a reserve that they don't even consider that this is the time the reserve was created for.

Then right after that, the city came along and raised our water to $70 a month, minimum. If that's not bad enough, I just found out that was the first of five annual raises. We'll be paying $100 a month soon, and that's not even including watering the lawn, which most people quit doing years ago.

The state raised taxes on corporations and implemented a hospital and insurance premium tax. There was another tax proposal too, but I don't remember what it was.

And, despite all that, the state cuts to the schools are horrendous.

And Democrats run my state.

[MichiganVote]

7. "Fees" are Michigan's tax on the middle class and the poor. The rich pay taxes? Ha!!

[Chemical Bill]

11. City property tax, excise tax on cars.

Meanwhile the state cut taxes on the ultra rich and cut funding given to cities to pay for mandated programs. They called the money "revenue sharing" as if it was a gift, so now they take it away with a smirk about how cities need to balance their budgets. Last year our governor used stimulus money to pay for tax cuts for the ultra rich. He's been doing that for 5 years. He's a repuke, of course, but the DINOs in the legislature let him, every step of the way.

Bill