Appraiser scrambles property tax issue [TEXAS]

Houston Chronicle ^ | Dec. 9, 2006 | LOREN STEFFY

[dhuffman@awod.com]

We have just completed a community wide appraisal. _All_ who appealed were granted a reduction. How much padding is there in these appraisals to allow such easy reductions? Hardly fair.

either we are equal or we are not. Good people ought to be armed where they will, with wits and guns. Merry Christmas

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

Come to the D.C. suburbs where you'll pay $5000/year in property taxes for an average single family home. Once your mortgage is paid off you have to pay $450/month in taxes or the government takes your home.

[deport]

Out of the question Besides, Watson says, selling the house is out of the question. Given the smell, "how many people are going to want to buy it?"

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Well all he needs is one willing buyer and it won't be out of the question....

However, I suspect a jury of the property owners peers will side with them and not the County Appraiser's office. It will be interesting to see the results.

Maybe the appraisial office can get home boy Dan Rather to find a notarized copy certifying their contentions.....

[pnh102]

Another reason why property taxes are one of the most unfair taxes. I'd like to see a Constitutional Amendment that bans them for one's primary residence at least... but fat chance of that happening :(

I remember when Ed Rendell was running for governor of Penna. in 2002. He claimed that he did not raise property taxes at all during his tenure as mayor. He was correct, of course, however, the city government simply kept reassessing peoples' houses to ridiculous amounts so that it would increase the total tax paid instead.

[CindyDawg]

We need to get rid of property taxes , period. As someone else posted, we make 2 payments evey month. When all have to share the burden they won't be able to get away with this. I fought and won a property increase on my house. I wasted my time. The next year and every year after they just raised the land value.

[Ken522]

It seems like this creature Gamble is abusing her position as a paid government employee by going against the judgement of elected officials.

[wgflyer]

"Come to the D.C. suburbs where you'll pay $5000/year in property taxes for an average single family home"

You don't have to go to D.C. My home is a single family home, middle class, fully paid off, in the Dallas area and they charge me about $475.00 per month in property tax. It just went up.

[Howard Jarvis Admirer]

Just dropped off my property tax payment at the San Diego County Treasurer's office yesterday - $1,450 on my house with no reappraisal unless I sell or build an addition.

What a relief that I am not living in Taxus where the Taxans are victimized yearly by tax hungry politicians and tax collectors. Thank you, Howard Jarvis!

[100-Fold_Return]

Though this article is a backhand to our Gov., when property taxes were rolled back, to make up the appraisal districts appraised property at market value, not at the former 80%.

Got that straight from the appraisers mouth.

[FixitGuy]

Property taxes are among the most arbitrary, invasive and unfair scams perpetrated on the American people.

They are assessed by little small minded people hiding in inaccessible county offices all over our country. Try fighting against it.

But then that's just one man's opinion.

If some yuppy pays too much for the house next door, your taxes will go up.

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

He was correct, of course, however, the city government simply kept reassessing peoples' houses to ridiculous amounts so that it would increase the total tax paid instead.

Yeah, this is the typical dishonest politician-speak. The truth is that he won't raise your tax rate but will gladly double your taxes as the appraised value of your home goes up..

[Howard Jarvis Admirer]

Not in California - your property assessment is fixed on purchase for as long as you own your home. Checkout www.hjta.org for more details.

[traviskicks]

Libertarian ping! To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here.

[Crooked Constituent]

ASSESSMENT/ASSESSOR SCRAMBLES PROPERTY TAX ISSUE

[Rb ver. 2.0]

Besides sour grapes, what are the homeowners being sued for? The difference in property tax between the original assessment and review assessment?

[Texas_Jarhead]

"It's the 30 percent hike in his property tax appraisal"

That is ridiculously high.

[pterional]

I think prop 13 allows for a maximum 2% increase a year based on the county property value appreciation. Property taxes continue to increase here in California.

[A CA Guy]

If the market shows there is no decrease in sales prices due to the smell, then the home owners in fact have no case to make.

[Howard Jarvis Admirer]

True - but I don't consider that a reappraisal. If my property were reappraised, I likely would be paying $6,000 per year and so would most other San Diego homeowners. According to the recent news, the average house in SoCal is worth $615,000 x 1% equals $6,150 less $70 homeowners exemption or $6,080 in property tax if reassessment were allowed. Savings due to the Prop 13 reassessment restriction, approximately $4,500 per year.