Feb 15, 2023Liked by Current Revolt, Tommy Oliver, Gordon Bombay
You’re right. Carve outs to groups, especially large ones like “anyone over 65” makes meaningful reform difficult. I know lots of people who live in much nicer houses/ neighborhoods than mine but their taxes have been “frozen” for 10-15 years so I pay way more than they do. Some of them, even retired, have more money coming in from retirement pensions than I do from working all the time. I don’t begrudge them the retirement they earned, but I just want the exemptions and freezes to go away and then everyone could pay the same lower rates. Keep in mind, many of these seniors I know always rail against food stamps, Medicaid, and other programs that we pay for with a select group of beneficiaries. However, they are more than happy to vote for bond elections for roads, schools, new courthouses, and much more knowing their own taxes won’t go up but instead it will be the younger homeowners, investment properties, and businesses paying for everything new.
Feb 15, 2023Liked by Current Revolt, Gordon Bombay
Just like the so called property tax “reform” amendments that passed last year to increase the homestead…I voted for both of those AND fought the appraisal district when they proposed nearly a 30% increase on my evaluation last summer and with all of that, the tax bill on my house dropped by $60 for the year…then in November, we had a bond election for a new courthouse in my county where they sent out mailers to voters saying “no cost to you” if over 65. I voted no, but it passed so my taxes are going back up $72 per year. So now I’m $12 in the hole from before the last “reforms!”
It’s a serious problem rooted in the incentives built into our political system. Once you start to give handouts to voters, or exempt some voters from taxes, the beneficiaries of those policies will vote for more handouts and more spending because they do not share in the burden. It’s easy to vote for spending other people’s money.
You’re right. Carve outs to groups, especially large ones like “anyone over 65” makes meaningful reform difficult. I know lots of people who live in much nicer houses/ neighborhoods than mine but their taxes have been “frozen” for 10-15 years so I pay way more than they do. Some of them, even retired, have more money coming in from retirement pensions than I do from working all the time. I don’t begrudge them the retirement they earned, but I just want the exemptions and freezes to go away and then everyone could pay the same lower rates. Keep in mind, many of these seniors I know always rail against food stamps, Medicaid, and other programs that we pay for with a select group of beneficiaries. However, they are more than happy to vote for bond elections for roads, schools, new courthouses, and much more knowing their own taxes won’t go up but instead it will be the younger homeowners, investment properties, and businesses paying for everything new.
Just like the so called property tax “reform” amendments that passed last year to increase the homestead…I voted for both of those AND fought the appraisal district when they proposed nearly a 30% increase on my evaluation last summer and with all of that, the tax bill on my house dropped by $60 for the year…then in November, we had a bond election for a new courthouse in my county where they sent out mailers to voters saying “no cost to you” if over 65. I voted no, but it passed so my taxes are going back up $72 per year. So now I’m $12 in the hole from before the last “reforms!”
That is interesting. Thanks for letting us know.
It’s a serious problem rooted in the incentives built into our political system. Once you start to give handouts to voters, or exempt some voters from taxes, the beneficiaries of those policies will vote for more handouts and more spending because they do not share in the burden. It’s easy to vote for spending other people’s money.
Just what we need...more traffic in Dallas