Private border wall property valued at $20M; unprecedented tax-roll boost possible

Border Report ^ | Aug 25, 2020 | Sandra Sanchez

[BeauBo]

The South Texas land where a 3-mile controversial private border wall was built earlier this year has been valued at $20.2 million, which has resulted in an estimated tax bill of nearly half a million dollars...

The taxes due are up astronomically from the 2019 valuation of $272,000 for the two plats of property before the private wall was built...

“I think it will help with future endeavors for people to understand that if they put up a structure like this they’ll be assessed taxes on it,” (Hidalgo County Judge Richard) Cortez said...

If the private border wall is still standing on Jan. 1, 2021, then next year it will be assessed at the full 100% valuation, not just 38%...

[BeauBo]

74 fold increase in tax assessment, and arbitrarily reclassifying the land from agricultural, to the more highly taxed commercial category, despite no change in the land's use (sugar cane) - so that just this year's tax bill will be twice what the land was worth. Next year, they intend to raise the tax bill again, by more than 250% - unless the wall is torn down.

The power to tax is the power to destroy.

This is a clear abuse of taxation powers, as a means of coercion and oppression.

Hopefully, the Federal Government will buy out the land from the owner.

[Rurudyne]

Progressive scum are certainly behind this.

[Presbyterian Reporter]

The landowners need to create a BUILD THE WALL CHURCH and declare the land and wall to be church property.

That will put a quick end to the Socialist Nonsense by New Mexico Democrats.

[Meatspace]

Well, the property has been improved.

[Farcesensitive]

The property owners will have additional time to appeal to the appraisal district beginning in September, Gonzalez said.

[Sacajaweau]

It’s regulated but not taxed here in upstate. Ridiculous.

[Balding_Eagle]

Hopefully, the Federal Government will buy out the land from the owner.

That's isn't the right response, unless the owner WANTS to sell.

There needs to be a better solution which will allow the owner to retain the land if that's what he wants.

[marktwain]

Just sell the wall to the Feds, not the land.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Yes indeed

[Meatspace]

Texas has no income tax, a rather low sales tax but the property tax does take a bite.

[Secret Agent Man]

Govt should be paying that to the owner

The wall there does fedgov’s constitutional job

Hang the judge

[beancounter13]

The simple solution is to seek legal advice. Most likely course of action would be to separate the wall and a small strip on land, like a 10 foot strip, where it sits. Then force the county to reassess.

That done, the land with wall could be donated to the Federal Government.

[central_va]

This will never survive the TX Supreme court or the SCOTUS.

[central_va]

Well, the property has been improved.

Sarcasm I hope.

[Raycpa]

Donate it to charity and take major tax deductions.

[wildcard_redneck]

Lawfare: The misuse of legal systems and principles against an enemy, such as by damaging or delegitimizing them, tying up their time or winning a public relations victory.[1][2][3] The term is a portmanteau of the words law and warfare.

[wildcard_redneck]

Texas has no income tax, a rather low sales tax but the property tax does take a bite.

Property tax in Texas is crazy high.

[11th_VA]

Donate it to charity and take major tax deductions.

Kars for kids needs a wall !!!

[silverleaf]

Both

[beancounter13]

Not really. Have you seen property taxes in NJ?