housing wow....

[alfsauve]

I'm fortunate to live in Cobb County, GA.  At least taxes wise.   Not only are our home property taxes are very reasonable.     Forget all the assessed value  verses market value mumbo-jumbo they play.  When it comes down it's about 0.3% for the county and 0.6% for the school board based on market value.  The official millage rates are higher, but then the appraised value is devalued about 60% before the computation.

BUT, and Cobb is one of the few counties in the country, those over 62 can opt out of the school board tax!!

So for every 100,000 in MARKET value I pay about $300/yr. 

[billt]

..... those over 62 can opt out of the school board tax!!

It should be that way for every country in the U.S.

[Timothy]

It should be that way for every COUNTY in the U.S.

in all 57 states!!!

[Timothy]

MA mil rates range from 5 to 25/30 bucks per 1000.  This town is 16 bucks.

I rent, so I pay those taxes one way or another.  I expect this house is worth about 200-230k.

[crusader rabbit]

BUT, and Cobb is one of the few counties in the country, those over 62 can opt out of the school board tax!.

I have never had a kid go to school in Florida.  I'm 69.  I've lived in Florida 35 years.  And I still get nicked for School Board assessments. 
 
Property taxes run more than my annual salary in my 20s.  Fortunately, I did better in my 30s and onward.

Crusader Rabbit

[Sponsor]

[billt]

And the irritating thing about it, (at least for me), is the fact the money is continually being squandered. Except for in a few very affluent school districts. Every year we pay more, and every year scholastic performance drops.  I don't really give a damn where they place blame. It can be the teachers, and total lack of discipline. Parents who don't care. Too much time wasted on unimportant, progressive curriculum. Or all of the above.

The fact is every year we end up paying more and getting less. Somewhere this chain has got to be broken. I'm afraid it will only happen when the tax money starts drying up. And with the prices of many of these homes, along with ever increasing property tax bills, something has got to give. This is unsustainable.   

[tombogan03884]

Part of the problem is the money wasted on "administrators".
 We actually spend far to much money on education, it's just that most is pissed away on crony assistants, and social justice BS in stead of actual teaching.

[alfsauve]

In metro Atlanta the thing is SPLOST, or Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax.

The state gave every county, municipality, or official board the ability to add to the sales tax, in there area, for special purposes, WITH VOTER APPROVAL.   And because they're special the tax is limited to 5 years.

We're up for renewal on our County School Board and the Marietta City Schools.   eSPLOST V they're calling it.   Each time I think the voters will turn off the spigot, but each time it's gets approved.  Only drives me to do more business mail-order with no sales tax.

[Timothy]

Here, we're required to "report" our online purchases on our state taxes...  now that Amazon has a facility in the state, they're required to take on POS.

[Big Frank]

What online purchases? I didn't make any online purchases. Wink wink. I think we're supposed to report them here too. That's the only tax I've been able to avoid.