Freep Poll (property tax)

www.countypressonline ^ | 7-23-03

[Tribune7]

Those on fixed or declining incomes, such as senior citizens or those who lose their jobs, can be forced from their homes by high property taxes. School property taxes have doubled in Delaware County over the last decade and will be expected to rise substantially as teacher unions keep locking 4 percent or higher annual salary increases in multi-year contracts. Should the property tax be eliminated as a means of funding schools?

[Tribune7]

ping

[DannyTN]

Louisiana exempts seniors from property taxes. That should be the way to protect seniors. Perhaps in combination with a means test.

You have to have some means of funding these things. Your choices are Sales Tax, Property Tax, Personal Income Tax, Corporate Income Tax, Fuel Tax, User Fees, etc.

Every tax causes market distortions. The goal is to raise the funds you need for legitimate purposes of government with the lowest market distortion. I think a combination works well.

[tcostell]

Just so you are all aware, the NEA supports the elimination of property taxes for school funding because it allows them greater power of obfuscation.

If you don't know where the money is being spent, you don't know where it's being wasted.

[holyh2o]

All property taxes for senior citizens, 65 and over should be eliminated.

[RightWhale]

Retired folks are exempt from property tax on their residence if they choose. So what's the problem?

[evilC]

Elimination of government education would solve that problem.

[evilC]

>>>
All property taxes for senior citizens, 65 and over should be eliminated.
<<<

Why?

We pay for their pension, we pay for their healthcare and soon we will pay for their prescription drugs. Why should we pay their property tax as well.

[IYAS9YAS]

Not in every state.

[Tribune7]

best answer

[IYAS9YAS]

I say we pay sales tax when we buy the home, then amortize it with the payment. Pay off your home, owe no more sales tax. Eliminate the property tax all together.

[bmwcyle]

Yes 86.96%



No 13.04%

[Tribune7]

The problem with the property tax is that if you should find yourself with a large drop in income you can lose your home. This is usually associated with senior citizens but is not always the case.

[holyh2o]

Most I know were hardworking folks taxed to death, finally reach retirement and some scum sucking democratic agency wants their last drops of blood to fund their aspirations of power disguised as a noble gesture of help to others. Why shouldn't those folks get a break?

[holyh2o]

I would prefer taxes end altogether and let the politicians do some real work.

[RightWhale]

Not in every state.

It might be on a community by community basis. Our community has the exemption, age 62, but only for the one parcel, usually the parcel of residence. If the person owns other parcels, they pay tax on those. They also have to apply for the exemption and renew it regularly.

[Temple Owl]

Freeped

[evilC]

holyh2o said:
>>>
Most I know were hardworking folks taxed to death, .... Why shouldn't those folks get a break?
<<<

We ALL need a break not just chosen (and already well looked after) groups.

The real problem, of course, is spending. About 75% of local (mainly property) taxes go to fund government education. Cutting expenditure here is key to reducing the burden of taxation.

Perhaps we need a "tuition charge" just like government colleges already have. This would certainly help the users (tax-spenders) feel some of the pain of tax-payers and make them less willing to fund every increased the teachers unions tell them they need.

[RightWhale]

The 1948 UN Declaration of Human Rights states that education shall be mandatory and free for young children (grammar school, I guess,) and available on a merit basis for advanced levels (college, I guess,) so in performance of this (unfunded) mandate the signatories shall provide and fund elementary school. How advanced schooling is to be funded is not of interest, it could be private schools so long as it admits students based only on merit. Is the Declaration twisted like a pretzel trying to keep up with societal evolution?

[Tribune7]

ping