Say Anything Blog

The big plan in the legislature right now seems to be a cap on property tax rates.  But as you point out, that’s not really a solution.  Local governments can manipulate valuations too, so even if you get a lower mill rate you can still get a higher property tax bill.

Frankly, I don’t like the idea of capped mill rates.  It’s a loss of local control.  I say we refuse to bailout local spending from the state level and let them fix their own budgets.

Decrease local spending and property taxes will come down.

The purpose of government shouldn’t be to do good, but simply to refrain from doing evil.

When we bought our home a few years’ back, prior owners were paying $1400/year. Our taxes went up to $1600 the next year.. Today, a few years later taxes are $2300.  Our house is also valued at, according to our property tax statement, a whole lot more than I personally think it’s worth…. This has been in the past almost 10 years.

I like this explanation of how things really operate.

I’m glad you like it, Kay.

I think the key to fixing the property tax issue in North Dakota lays first with getting people to understand how they work.

Everyone is talking about mills, but that’s just one part.  When they can set the value of your property too they can get around mill rate caps by inflating the valuations.

Personally, if I could sell my home for what my local assessor thinks it’s worth I would and then buy an even nicer one.

The purpose of government shouldn’t be to do good, but simply to refrain from doing evil.

Absolutely right!  Even some of the most educated people I know think the state collects property tax and should fix it.  If I had ten minutes with every citizen in north dakota, things would be a whole lot different.  Spread the word about property taxes!  It’s the only way we can crush the myths.

A politicians worst nightmare is an educated voter.

Absolutely right!  Even some of the most educated people I know think the state collects property tax and should fix it.  If I had ten minutes with every citizen in north dakota, things would be a whole lot different.  Spread the word about property taxes!  It’s the only way we can crush the myths.

A politicians worst nightmare is an educated voter.

I agree.

At this point, the path to a solution lays with education.  Because most of the public and the powers that be right now aren’t getting it.

The purpose of government shouldn’t be to do good, but simply to refrain from doing evil.

I say we refuse to bailout local spending from the state level and let them fix their own budgets.

yup. how does the state know where the little guys need to spend money? the state should give money directly back to the tax payers and if the local folks want more, they can take ALL THE CREDIT for raising our taxes.

A coward is much more exposed to quarrels than a man of spirit.
Thomas Jefferson

Mine is better than ours.
Benjamin Franklin

Our house is also valued at, according to our property tax statement, a whole lot more than I personally think it’s worth

In most places you can appeal your valuation, either by showing recent sales of comparable homes in the area or by getting it appraised.  It’s not worth the hassle if it’s off by 5-10%, but with home values decreasing recently, many homes are likely over appraised by much more.

Good post.  The thing is the whole mill rate/valuation thing is just how the property taxes are being split up.

When the local government entity spends 10% more and your tax bill goes up 10% more it has NOTHING to do with your valuation.  It’s the spending. 

The way it should work is that the city council, or school board, or county commission decide what they can spend this year.  They should base that on inflation and growth in the population.  In a well run jurisdiction taxes should go up less than a factor of those two.

Next they decide what their priorities are within that budget amount.  If they want to add something new they need to cut something out.

At that point you run the calculations of who pays what amount using the mill rate and valuations. 

Instead they do it bass-ackwards.  They decide how much their current tax level will be and do their best to spend it.  That means they win with higher valuations but I will guarantee that when they no longer can raise valuations they will still demand more money.

1% of Americans pay 40% of the income tax.
5% of Americans pay 60% of the income tax.
10% of Americans pay 70% of the income tax.

Screw em.

Sell your house and rent.

Ya, ya, I know…even renters pay property taxes ‘through’ their rent to the landlords, but they have to compete in the marketplace for renters and cannot rape a renter each year by jacking the rent by 200$ per year like by property taxes have been for the past 7 years.

Stupid People Shouldn’t Breed