Free Republic

Well, here we go again. CNN tells us that a property tax revolt is spreading, with a nationwide movement to eliminate property taxes on the march.Most of us are familiar with the basic scenario of property taxation. Every state is replete with numerous political subdivisions commonly known as “municipal corporations.” These are counties, cities, school districts, fire districts, water districts, sewer districts, diking distraction, etc., etc. Each of these is known as a “taxing district” because state statute authorizes these districts’ legislative authority to adopt an annual budget and levy that budget as a tax on the property owners in...

The sleeper issue in next year's provincial election campaign could be property taxes. Across the province, some people are being hit hard by sharply higher property taxes, thanks to the vicissitudes of the assessment system. In the coming weeks, these folks plan to come together as a coalition to campaign against the system, known as "current value assessment." Bob Topp, executive director of Waterfront Ratepayers After Fair Taxation, one of the founding groups in the new coalition, says that if the government does not respond adequately to their concerns, "We could be active in the election." And tomorrow the Legislature...