Arizona Tax Revolt

[Wheeler]

Who is familiar with the Arizona Tax Revolt?
I understand, they are attempting to parallel prop 13, the Jarvis/Gahn initiative.
http://www.arizonataxrevolt.org/

[SK48]

It has been tried for a couple of elections, can't seem to get the rest of
the state interested, as only select counties and tax assessors seem to be out of control.

[Boatcop]

There has been a big problem getting sufficient signatures to get it on the ballot.
A bigger problem is that a lot of the higher taxed areas are resort oriented, which means out-of-state owners. They can't sign the petitions, since they aren't qualified Arizona voters.

[Xlration Marine]

Yes but look at Mesa. They voted down the land tax only to get screwed on water and trash pick up. These thieves will find a way to take the money out of your pocket. I know my taxed value of my home has doubled in the past 4 years. They think that since you live in it you are reaping the rewards of the higher value of your home. You only gain when you sell, and how many are selling? Like Ronny said " Government isn't the sollution it's the problem". But they are looking at the American public as a bunch of stupid sheep that are fallowing their rules. I think the Casino's need to pick up the tab here in Az.

[Tequila-John]

Yes but look at Mesa. They voted down the land tax only to get screwed on water and trash pick up. These thieves will find a way to take the money out of your pocket. I know my taxed value of my home has doubled in the past 4 years. They think that since you live in it you are reaping the rewards of the higher value of your home. You only gain when you sell, and how many are selling? Like Ronny said " Government isn't the sollution it's the problem". But they are looking at the American public as a bunch of stupid sheep that are fallowing their rules. I think the Casino's need to pick up the tab here in Az.
I agree bud

[Baja Big Dog]

To bad home/land owners cant be exempted from having a say-so on property tax issues, if your a non resident.
Almost like "Taxation without representation".
They are more than happy to take our money, but dont give a shit what we think!!
Maybe its time to throw some tea into the river!!!:mad:

[Not So Fast]

In a market that has gone backwards for about a year now, I just got my property evaluation for 07-08 and they raised the value $50,000. The only good politician is a dead one, they all turn into crooks after being elected or just dont give a crap about all of their pre election promises. :mad: NSF

[BoatPI]

Everyone should look at their tax bill in DETAIL. For my LHC house the actual property tax is about $500. The bonds, yes those voted on by some aparent morons, amount to $1,950 per year!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is not the tax levy from what I see, but the bonds that are killing some.
As an example my Surf City house shows about 90% of the bill as the parcel tax levy, with 20% of bonds and assesments that are not voted on.
Response???

[Not So Fast]

I shouldnt say all of em. Buster Johnson (Mojave Co. Supe) tried for two years to get a prop 13 type thing going and there were a few supporters in legislature that were in favor of helping curb our ever increasing tax bills but due to how much bullshit redtape is involved and the bureacratic crap it died in Phoenix on the floor, I dont think our Guv Nappy liked it much either. Then the schools got there way with an over ride that added about $200-250 to the average tax bill. They f--k you coming and going, bastards. BTW I did get an increase of about $17@month from S.S. :rolleyes: NSF

[framer1]

Everyone should look at their tax bill in DETAIL. For my LHC house the actual property tax is about $500. The bonds, yes those voted on by some aparent morons, amount to $1,950 per year!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is not the tax levy from what I see, but the bonds that are killing some.
As an example my Surf City house shows about 90% of the bill as the parcel tax levy, with 20% of bonds and assesments that are not voted on.
Response???
This is so true. The property taxes were minimal it was all the other bull$hit that drove the price up.

[SK48]

I get really irritated on this subject everytime it comes up. I live in Parker and still have an income and can pay my (high) property taxes. We really need some type of tax reform like prop 13 in Calif. In the past four years, I have lost two of my favorite neighbors that both lost their houses to the extreme
increases in their taxes. Both families were in there 70's and had lived in their houses for fourty plus years. They could survive on their social security etc. until their taxes reached $ 5,000 plus per year. It's just not right for elderly people to be taxed out of their houses.

[Boatcop]

Just to give you all an idea of how all this works out, here's my info:
Oh yeah. I got a change in valuation for 2006.
Was: Land - $26,350 Improvements - $80,840 (total-$107,090)
Change: Land - $46,250 Improvements - $84,618 (Total-$130,868)
Like I said before, I really can't complain about the valuation. We bought the house in '88 for $41,000, and with about $30,000 in improvements, We could get at least twice the assessed value if we were to sell. (3 bdrm, 2 bath, fam room, fireplace, jacuzzi, covered patio, garage, storage building, laundry room)
My 2006 taxes are: (2005)
La Paz Co.- $249.08 ($194.14)
College District - $276.80 ($203.42)
Fire District - $121.64 ($103.82)
Fire Asst - $13.08 ($8.62)
School Override - $142.76 ($118.90)
School Equalization - $0.00 ($37.60)
Hospital District - $0.00 ($56.94)
Total - $803.36 ($723.44)
So, you see, only about 31% is actually for the County. The rest is the other special districts. Other parts of the County have other districts with different taxes. I know that Bucksin Fire is higher than Parker Fire, and there's the Sanitation (sewer) District besides.
What I really don't get is the (AWC) Community College District. That is all of La Paz and Yuma County. Are you telling me that they need more tax money than the County does to operate? And this is for an outfit that charges tuition, fees, etc. and gets state and federal money besides? :mad:
Actually, I do have one confession to make. I only pay MY share of the property taxes. 1/2 of the above figures. Since my wife is Native American, and the home is located within an Indian Reservation, she doesn't pay taxes on her 1/2 ownership. Even though she's not of this Tribe (She's Cherokee), the rights of Indian land ownership is inherent on the Res, so she isn't taxed on her land.
I've thought about quit-claiming the whole house to her and not paying any taxes, but I fear she may want to get back at me for what the white-eyes did to her people and kick me off the land. :D

[Boatcop]

I get really irritated on this subject everytime it comes up. I live in Parker and still have an income and can pay my (high) property taxes. We really need some type of tax reform like prop 13 in Calif. In the past four years, I have lost two of my favorite neighbors that both lost their houses to the extreme increases in their taxes. Both families were in there 70's and had lived in their houses for fourty plus years. They could survive on their social security etc. until their taxes reached $ 5,000 plus per year. It's just not right for elderly people to be taxed out of their houses.
If their taxes were over $5,000, the home had to have been assessed at over $700,000 dollars.
They could have applied for a valuation freeze. In 2000 the legislature passed a law allowing persons 65 years or older to have their valuation "frozen" at 2000 levels, if they met certain conditions (length of residency in the home and state, income, etc.)
There is also a provision to defer property taxes completely, if over 70, until the home is sold. Again, there are provisions to meet.
While I sympatize with anyone, especially the elderly, who are forced to move for whatever reason, having a home assessed at $700,000 (actual value a Million+) hardly puts them in the category of "poor" old folks.

[Riomouse911]

Boo hoo hoo. My annual is over 14k prop and assessments. I'm no millionaire, but no whining here. I realize that's where the roads, fire, cops, schools, freeways, libraries, parks, etc. are paid for. Quit bawling... or live like a pauper and see what a really tough life is like.

[Not So Fast]

If their taxes were over $5,000, the home had to have been assessed at over $700,000 dollars.
They could have applied for a valuation freeze. In 2000 the legislature passed a law allowing persons 65 years or older to have their valuation "frozen" at 2000 levels, if they met certain conditions (length of residency in the home and state, income, etc.)
There is also a provision to defer property taxes completely, if over 70, until the home is sold. Again, there are provisions to meet.
While I sympatize with anyone, especially the elderly, who are forced to move for whatever reason, having a home assessed at $700,000 (actual value a Million+) hardly puts them in the category of "poor" old folks.
Here's what bugs me BC, we have been here for 5 years now (Havasu) and yes we bought a new house when we retired. As I remember the valuation was about $135,000 the first year (2002) and it is now around $350,000. My bitch is that this is paper money and not something I have realized in money in my pocket. If and when we sell the place then they can tax it on fair market value of that sale, and I have no problem with that, until then the only people making money is the County by continually jacking up my valuation and with the price of EVERYTHING we buy nowadays it can become a very real problem paying for unrealized property profits. Even if you planned your retirement carefully these added expeditures start eating away at the budget and quickly. WE NEED SOME FORM OF TAX RELIEF PERIOD. NSF

[Not So Fast]

Boo hoo hoo. My annual is over 14k prop and assessments. I'm no millionaire, but no whining here. I realize that's where the roads, fire, cops, schools, freeways, libraries, parks, etc. are paid for. Quit bawling... or live like a pauper and see what a really tough life is like.
Mouse, go find a piece of cheese to nibble OK:D NSF

[Wheeler]

Boo hoo hoo. My annual is over 14k prop and assessments. I'm no millionaire, but no whining here. I realize that's where the roads, fire, cops, schools, freeways, libraries, parks, etc. are paid for. Quit bawling... or live like a pauper and see what a really tough life is like.
Rio, If prop 13 were to be repealed today, how much would you paying in property tax, 10, 15, or 20 years from now?
http://www.arizonataxrevolt.org/

[Riomouse911]

Don't get me wrong, I hate paying tax as much as everyone else, I just look at the big picture and believe that the pool of treasure we all send in is needed to run the place and keep it going. Without the benefit of a crystal ball, I am sure I'll be paying in the future what it costs to run police/EMS/fire service, build and maintain roads and highways, public transportation, pay for schools, libraries, house crooks in prison, pay for the troops in faraway places, on and on. Been paying before, am paying now, and will be paying tomorrow. No complaints here, it's part of living in a first-world Country.

[Wheeler]

Don't get me wrong, I hate paying tax as much as everyone else, I just look at the big picture and believe that the pool of treasure we all send in is needed to run the place and keep it going. Without the benefit of a crystal ball, I am sure I'll be paying in the future what it costs to run police/EMS/fire service, build and maintain roads and highways, public transportation, pay for schools, libraries, house crooks in prison, pay for the troops in faraway places, on and on. Been paying before, am paying now, and will be paying tomorrow. No complaints here, it's part of living in a first-world Country.
Rio,
I was not agreeing or disagreeing with you. People in Ca. are very fortunate, to have prop 13. Prop 13 allows you to make long range plans, as your property tax, is limited to 2% increase per year. Now being in Az., I do not know, what the taxes will be, year after year. I payed about 600.00 last year, on a College that teaches, Water Coloring!

[C-2]

Same stuff in Hawaii and Texas, especially in Hawaii where natives and local residents really don't have any great income sources. For example, my father in-law's 600sq ft vacation home he bought in 73' for $20K is now worth about $2M, and his property taxes have jumped about 1000% .Talk about pricing out local residents, lickety split style. And there, I think only native Hawaiians catch a break, not necessarily residents.