[AT] Subdivision Development

[charlie hill]

That issue (senior citizen tax) came up here a few years ago.  There is an 
area close to where I live that used to be very rural and far from town 
because it is across the river from town.  It is actually less than a mile 
by boat.  In the 50's some folks built little cottages on big lots on the 
river.  At the time they didn't have much value because they were remote 
(had to drive way down the river and across the bridge to get to town). 
Well, town has expanded to the point that eveyone has to drive way down 
somewhere to get to down town and all of a sudden these little waterfront 
cottages are bringing big money.  One of the county commissioners raised the 
issue a few years ago, saying that old folks that had lived in these houses 
for years should not be burdened with the tax increases based on what some 
of the houses had sold for recently.  He said that there were some old widow 
ladies living in some of those houses who had lived there for 40 years or so 
and they shouldn't have to pay the higher tax rate until they sold out.

The county's cheif tax appraiser jumped up and said "if they can't afford to 
pay the taxes they'll just have to sell out and leave!"  he continued "I 
used to own a water front house and I had to sell mine"

Unfortunately the commissioner that raised the issue was in the minority 
party.  The new tax rate was approved on a party line vote and most of the 
old ladies are gone now.

The funny thing is that I keep telling them about my tractors and they keep 
telling me they are too old to have any value (they can't find them in their 
book) and take them off the tax registration.  That's fine with me.  I 
stopped listing them.

Charlie

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Cecil E Monson" <cmonson at hvc.rr.com>
To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Friday, December 03, 2004 7:26 AM
Subject: Re: [AT] Subdivision Development


> Herb is lucky to live in a county that shows some regard for it's
> senior citizens. What they are doing there is recognising that these older
> citizens have already put in their years of work and have made their
> contributions to society. Hopefully they will have many years of peace
> without worry over losing their homes to high taxes.
>
> Rob is in a different situation and one like we were in quite a few
> years ago. Raising taxes comes with adding services that appear to be 
> needed
> but once they start this, it will never end. The Arabs in the old days had
> camels that took over the tent and we have this sort of thing. I believe 
> in
> a good police department, personally, but that doesn't mean a good one is
> a large one. Once they get a full time officer with an SUV, it will become
> an issue that he needs time off and how can he get it if he is the only
> officer. Then once you get another one, it will likely be necessary to 
> have
> a Chief of Police. They will all need vehicles and a lot of other 
> equipment.
> Then a bigger and better police station and that is the way it will go.
>
> I have no idea how the spread of additional services can be stopped
> without stopping the influx of newcomers to the area and doubt you could
> legally do that anyhow. So welcome to the 21st Century, Rob. I hope it 
> takes
> a long time to get where you are.
>
> Just an antique tractor related note here, our increase this year in
> school taxes alone would have bought me at least 6 more Allis Chalmers 
> tractors.
> Not that I need them, of course, but why not have more tractors?
>
> Cecil
>
>
>> The township I'm in just raised the property tax rate for the first time
>
> in 14 years because they say they want to have a police officer on duty 24
>
> hours a day. Now, after 5pm all calls go to the state police. They also 
> want
>
> a SUV for the police department. Those sorts of things are not a big deal,
>
> but if the population continues to grow the big ticket items are when they
>
> need to build new schools. That costs big bucks...
>>
>> Rob
>> PA
>>
>>
>> Herbert Metz wrote:
>>
>>> Forsyth County, GA is one of a few counties where senior citizens do not
>
> pay school taxes; our taxes paid this year were $1.80/$1,000 current 
> market
>
> value.   Our not paying school taxes was approved by the voters a couple
>
> years ago., just before the economy slumped.  The schools wanted to fight
>
> it, but were afraid to.
>
>
> -- 
> The nicest thing about telling the truth is you never have to wonder
> what you said.
>
> Cecil E Monson
> Lucille Hand-Monson
> Mountainville, New York   Just a little east of the North Pole
>
> Allis Chalmers tractors and equipment
>
> Free advice
>
>
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