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‘We just can’t take this anymore’: Montana man, 68, begs for ‘moratorium on property taxes’ after his bill reaches $8K a year just ‘to live in our own house’
moneywise ^ | June 10, 2024 | Bethan Moorcraft

Posted on 06/11/2024 6:49:09 AM PDT by where's_the_Outrage?

A senior from Montana has delivered a viral speech about the sorry state of property taxes in the Treasure State.

“I’m on Social Security, I’m 68-years-old and working just to pay my taxes,” says Kurt, in a clip shared on TikTok by Ryan Busse, who is running to be the next governor of Montana.

Kurt claims that over the last couple of years, his annual property taxes have soared from $895 to almost $8,000 — an increase of around 790% — which he says is like paying almost “$700 a month rent to the state to live in our own house.” The state has an Elderly Homeowner/Renter Tax Credit, and the maximum credit is $1,150.

“There needs to be a moratorium on what we have to pay,” he says, adding that he’s had to continue working into what should be his retirement golden years to cover his mounting property costs. “I’m stubborn enough [that] I don’t want to dig into my bank account to pay them.”

(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Chit/Chat; Society
KEYWORDS: bidenomics; maganomics; montana; propertytaxes; realestatetax; retirement; tax; taxmoratorium
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There are several issues, the primary being property taxes negate property ownership by basically making you a renter from the government. Property taxes should be a one time assessment at title transfer IMHO.

Another as in this case is you plan for retirement then the government is unrestrained in upping the anti with these tax increases. However, if seniors are exempted from future tax increases they can then vote for tax increases because it doesn't affect them.

Furthermore, if you don't have skin in the game you should have a say which means non property owners should not have a say to increase property taxes.

1 posted on 06/11/2024 6:49:09 AM PDT by where's_the_Outrage?
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To: where's_the_Outrage?
That's pretty damn steep. But one question that can be asked is what's happened to the actual open market value of his place? If it's skyrocketed in the last few years that could partially explain the rise. Aren't rich Marxists from Kalifornia and Washington moving there by the millions?
2 posted on 06/11/2024 6:52:49 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Never Trust A Man Whose Uncle Was Eaten By Cannibals)
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

The gummit wants you out of your home.


3 posted on 06/11/2024 6:53:18 AM PDT by bray (It's not racist to be racist against races you do not like.)
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To: Gay State Conservative

It’s always interesting to talk to other ‘property owners’ who feel they do actually ‘own’ their home. I tell them to stop paying their taxes if they want to find out who REALLY owns it. Gives folks cause for pause.


4 posted on 06/11/2024 6:54:59 AM PDT by drwoof
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

Property taxes should be capped at 1% increases annually.


5 posted on 06/11/2024 6:55:04 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

Property taxes are wealth taxes.

There have been discussions about whether governments are going to impose wealth taxes on us. Everybody who pays property taxes is paying a wealth tax. We already have a type of wealth tax in this country.


6 posted on 06/11/2024 6:56:03 AM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

Real estate taxation is usually local, not state. Is it different in Montana?

nb. Betcha the root cause is rich Californian moving in and wanting all the expensive services and infrastructure that ruined where they came from.


7 posted on 06/11/2024 6:57:04 AM PDT by Chad C. Mulligan
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To: drwoof
You sound like one of those malcontents who insist that Election Day should be April 16th.
8 posted on 06/11/2024 6:57:25 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Never Trust A Man Whose Uncle Was Eaten By Cannibals)
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

“basically making you a renter from the government”
yep-

I saw the same thing happen.

$50K property, $1,000 yr taxes.

15 years later, ~$400K and $8,000 yr taxes.

CA prop 13 is the way to go.


9 posted on 06/11/2024 6:57:39 AM PDT by Macoozie (Roll MAGA, roll!)
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

We rent the property we bought.


10 posted on 06/11/2024 6:58:07 AM PDT by texanyankee
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

Owning property is nice if taxes don’t eat it up. In too many instances though taxes will eat up the property ownership value.


11 posted on 06/11/2024 6:58:27 AM PDT by no-to-illegals (The enemy has US surrounded. May God have mercy on them.)
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

I can see this old geezer maybe confused. Could be this is an escrow account with his lender.

Could be part taxes and part insurance.

Insurance rates are skyrocketing everywhere but it is unlikely that 700% is all taxes.


12 posted on 06/11/2024 6:59:01 AM PDT by George from New England (escaped CT back in 2006)
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

Social Security and retirement account income should be tax exempt income.

Seniors should be exempt from property taxes.


13 posted on 06/11/2024 6:59:34 AM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

The entire system is no longer working for most people. Many will never afford a home, many can’t afford to keep the ones they have, gong to the grocery store is a brutal economic kick in the balls, our nation has become overrun with third worlders, etc….. we are in the very last days of this system that has long been dependent on confidence in a fake fiat dollar, which is now long gone….what’s next is the question.


14 posted on 06/11/2024 6:59:57 AM PDT by Levy78 (Reject modernity, embrace tradition. )
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

The Government owns your home. You rent from the politicians and bureaucrats, to their advantage.


15 posted on 06/11/2024 7:01:19 AM PDT by Savage Beast (If they can do it to him, they can do it to us.)
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

Arkansas does not increase property tax when you hit 65, unless you move.


16 posted on 06/11/2024 7:01:30 AM PDT by luckystarmom
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To: Gay State Conservative

We saw this in California.

Someone would buy a house on the coast in the 1940s or 50s and do the commute and inconvenience of living away from the heart of town and eventually pay it off and retire and then property taxes become so high 25-35 years later that their old pensions and retirement couldn’t keep up with the massive payments.

I saw a lot of old people in dire situations in places like La Jolla, Prop 13 helped.


17 posted on 06/11/2024 7:01:44 AM PDT by ansel12 ((NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.))
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To: Gay State Conservative

Election Day on April 16th?

Good idea.


18 posted on 06/11/2024 7:02:37 AM PDT by HombreSecreto (The life of a repo man is always intense)
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

The problem of states jacking up property tax rates and forcing seniors out of their homes has been around a long time. In 1978, California voters approved Proposition 13 which sets your initial property tax at 1% of your purchase price. The tax can go up a maximum of 2% per year thereafter.

I’ve always been surprised that CA Prop 13 did not ignite similar restrictions in many other states.

For a while, the restricted cash flow to county coffers helped control the size of government. But the counties soon discovered they could raise sales taxes from 3% in 1978 to 9%-10% today. At least as a senior you don’t need to buy a lot of taxable stuff so you can control the sales tax you pay.

A 10% sales tax is outrageous.

Big government liberals have been salivating to end Prop 13 since the day it was passed.

In Montana, Kurt will soon be an ex-property owner if he continues his one-man tax rebellion. He needs to get a third or half of the property owners to join him. Tax revolts like that were common in the 1930s.


19 posted on 06/11/2024 7:02:44 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (“When exposing a crime is treated like a crime, you are being ruled by criminals” – Edward Snowden)
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

Property taxes need to be banned. Completely.

They make a mockery of property rights.


20 posted on 06/11/2024 7:03:47 AM PDT by MeganC (❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️)
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