Tuesday, May 18, 2010

“Property tax hike hits some hard” plus 3 more

“Property tax hike hits some hard” plus 3 more

Property tax hike hits some hard

Posted: 18 May 2010 10:30 AM PDT

Winnipeg property tax bills are arriving in mailboxes this week and some people in the inner city are getting a big shock.

Property values in that area have increased by about 117 per cent in the past year, according to the city. That's far more than any other part of Winnipeg.

And it has left some people on fixed incomes searching for a way to pay.

Clara, an 82-year-old widow who has lived on Furby Street for 45 years, received a tax bill that is nearly $300 higher than it was in 2009.

Her only income is her old age pension.

"If I have to pay, I have to pay — somehow. I just live from day to day and I just pray [to find the money to pay the bill]," she said.

"I don't know. I'm going to try to save it from my old age [pension]."

The good news is that her neighbourhood is improving as young families move in and fix up dilapidated houses. The increase in her taxes reflects the improved value of her home.

Clara, who didn't want her last name published, said she has always paid her property taxes on time and will do it again this year — even if it means skimping on food for a while.

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Prop 13: Eliminates property tax reassessment for quake safety upgrades

Posted: 18 May 2010 12:49 PM PDT

 

Proposition 13 on the June 8, 2010, Primary ballot is a constitutional amendment that would prohibit reassessment of property tax value on existing buildings that are seismically retrofitted.

Currently, thanks to two exclusions approved over the years to 1978's Proposition 13 which limits property tax reassessment increases to 2 percent for inflation of a property's assessed value at the time it is first sold, earthquake safety upgrades can trigger a property value reassessment.

The 2010 Prop 13 would combine those two exclusions into one and eliminate the earthquake retrofit exclusion. Property would not be reassessed until it is sold. 

Supporters of the measure say it will encourage property owners to make quake safety improvements. It will also eliminate the current 15-year exclusion for tax reassessment on safety upgrades to un-reinforced masonry buildings to no time limit. Again, only when the property is sold will its value be reassessed for tax purposes.

The financial impact is expected to be a small reduction in property tax revenues.

The Secretary of State Official Voter Information Guide does not list any formal opposition to Prop 13. The Easy Voter Guide says opponents don't want any more exclusions to property tax assessments.

News10/KXTV

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No property tax increases in Raleigh budget proposal

Posted: 18 May 2010 12:51 PM PDT

RALEIGH -- Raleigh's proposed budget plan cuts spending but excludes property tax increases.

City Manager Russell Allen plans to slash spending by more than 11 percent, bringing the total budget to more than $620 million.

The budget would eliminate at least two dozen vacant positions, but would also add nearly a dozen new positions. It would maintain the current property tax rate of $37.35 per $100 of value.

The only general fund fee increase is a $5-per-year hike on motor vehicle taxes. The increase would support Capital Area Transit.

A public hearing on the proposal is scheduled for June 1.

Five Filters featured article: The Art of Looking Prime Ministerial - The 2010 UK General Election. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Residents blast property tax hike

Posted: 18 May 2010 12:37 PM PDT

The public sent a unanimous message to the County Council at a Monday night hearing: Don't raise real property tax rates.

About a dozen people testified against the proposed tax hikes -- all in Hilo except for two each in Waimea and Kona.

The council will consider the bill June 7 in Hilo.

Under the proposal, the tax rate on residential land and buildings would go up from $7.10 to $9.10 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, while apartment rates would rise from $8.10 to $9.85, hotel and resort rates from $9 to $9.85, agricultural rates from $6.35 to $8.35, conservation from $8.55 to $9.85, and commercial and industrial from $9 to $9.10.

Both homeowner-occupant rates and affordable rental housing rates would remain the same, at $5.55 per $1,000 of net valuation.

Fred Housel asked the council to do a "sanity check" before raising tax rates.

"Many residents are just getting by, tapping savings and retirement accounts to pay the bills. ... There's no question that taking more money from people's pockets at this time will have a negative effect," he said. "With the proposed tax rate increases in residential, apartment and agriculture, rents will have to be raised, making the cost of housing even more expensive."

Tim Rees said homeowner-occupant rates are too low, but added he "cannot find a good reason" for the proposed rate hike on ag land and buildings.

"If you're in farming, with 150 inches of rain a year, you're required to have structures that you may not have in a better climate. They're not luxury items," he said. "No farmer I know builds a luxury corral, or barn, or shed for animals where they can birth. These are essentials. We keep talking about agriculture and how we want to promote it. Then why would we be raising this up? It's kind of like kickin' people when they're down."

Susan Hamilton called talk about supporting local agriculture "lip service."

"I don't see a lot of support," she said.

Devaki Klare called the proposed 31.5 percent tax increase on agriculture "ridiculous."

"Agriculture means raising food," she said. "Take the money from the police. They get a big part of the budget and they're always asking for more and they always seem to get it."

Edward Paulos said he bought property 20 years ago with the intention of giving it to his children, but he can no longer afford to keep it.

"The taxes is just eating me up, and it's coming to the point where I got to sell it or do something," he said. "... I did some small research; 20 years ago our budget was $88 (million) dollars. Now it's $376 (million) dollars. They need that much increase? Where did all the money go? Salaries? ... We gotta go back to the old school days and reduce the budget. Give us a break."

Noelani Cashman-Aiu, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel manager, said that the proposed 9.4 percent increase in hotel and resort rates and 15.2 percent hike in conservation real property taxes "would have a devastating effect on our continuing hotel and golf operations, as well as employment of over 650 of our local residents."

Tom Leeper, controller at the Fairmont Orchid Hawaii, said that full-time employment at the South Kohala resort has decreased from 569 employees in 2007 to a current 436 staffers.

"This reduction in staffing levels is a very visible impact of the current economic conditions," he said. "... Over the last two years, our resort has experienced the reduction of occupancy levels at significantly reduced room rates."

Leeper said the proposed 9.4 percent hotel and resort tax increase would cost the resort $115,000 yearly.

"Considering the current weakness of the Hawaii Island economy, it does not appear to be prudent to be increasing taxes on any of our businesses at this time," he said.

Puna resident Stephanie Bath said the county government is not "modeling the principles of provident living for our county."

"This doesn't mean raising taxes," she said. "... Is some of the spending really needed?"

James Weatherford, who is challenging Puna Councilwoman Emily Naeole-Beason for her seat, said people are generally "doing without" and don't have the money to pay the higher taxes.

"Not too many months ago, this council refused to vote to have its salary reduced. Now you're gonna ask everybody else to pay higher taxes? That's a pretty tough call," he said. "... I don't think you can make a case to raise taxes in this economy, and I don't think that as a council, you have the credibility to do so."

E-mail John Burnett at -jburnett@hawaiitribune--herald.com.





Five Filters featured article: The Art of Looking Prime Ministerial - The 2010 UK General Election. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.
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