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To: sickoflibs
Sorry, but housing prices are exactly where they need to be. Think for a minute, who profits most from high property costs?

Local and state governments do. They derive a significant portion of their revenue from the property tax. Their bonding authority is tied to a reliable revenue stream from property taxes year in, and year out. If housing prices have to come back to reality, then property tax revenues evaporate. Local school funding dries up, and government has to raise taxes elsewhere.

25 posted on 02/24/2009 10:19:42 PM PST by Sgt_Schultze (Government employment exists to provide a middle class lifestyle to otherwise, unemployable people)
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To: Sgt_Schultze
RE :”Sorry, but housing prices are exactly where they need to be(ie not fall any more). Think for a minute, who profits most from high property costs? Local and state governments do.

Are you kidding? If you want higher state and local taxes just tell your local elected to raise them. Government Propping up house prices artificially nationally (using printed money yet) hurts home buyers and is a bad way for you to keep your local tax rates high.

26 posted on 02/25/2009 5:11:25 AM PST by sickoflibs (Keynesian Economics : "If you won't spend your money WE WILL!")
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To: Sgt_Schultze
That is not how the property tax system works. I used to work for a tax assessor office, and tax revenue is based on (total assessed value) times (millage rate). If the total assessed value goes up, either with new construction, improvements, or inflationary pressures, then the millage rate could simultaneously go down, as mandated by law in some states, to keep the same total revenue.

If the total assessed value goes down, due to depreciation formulas, knockdowns, or loss of comparative sales value in a declining economy, then the millage rate could go up to keep the same revenue.

Also, foreclosures should have absolutely no effect on property tax revenues, since the bank that owns the property would be responsible for making sure the taxes are paid, so that the property does not get sold in a tax sale to someone else (who would then pay back taxes plus interest, and then be responsible for property taxes thereafter.)

28 posted on 02/25/2009 5:29:30 AM PST by wildandcrazyrussian
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