(10-14-2022, 02:49 PM)copycat Wrote:

(10-14-2022, 11:09 AM)mikesez Wrote: These aren't laments.  I think there is an optimum property tax rate, and it's not so much that NYC and LA suffer because theirs is too low, it's that they are missing out on growth opportunities that they could unlock if they lowered their income and sales tax and raised their property tax to make up the difference.
As for income inequality, we know from history that there are few better predictors of coups and revolutions than income inequality.  And we know, when we look at places like Brazil and Mexico, that our small-d democratic Presidential form of government is not immune to coups or revolutions.  It's better than a monarchy or dictatorship, but it's not immune to problems.
So don't misunderstand me.  I don't mention inequality as a concern out of a bleeding heart or any misplaced sympathy - "the poor will always be among us." I only mention it because I want to, conservatively, preserve our present form of government.

Help me understand this statement and allow me to elaborate the question.  My wife and I purchased our dream home in 1997 for a tidy sum back then of 110k.  Through self control, prudent spending, and personal home improvements we were able to pay off our 30 year mortgage in less than 15 years.  We did this while living on one income and banking/doubling our mortgage payments.  Since then we have invested in personal improvements and upgrades that satisfy us.  As such the property value has quadrupled.  As we enter our retirement years there will be a day under your statement that we will no longer be able to afford the taxes on something we worked a lifetime to achieve by doing everything right.  We have paid taxes on every board, nail and drop of paint on our home.  Yet you want us to pay even more because we had the audacity to pay off our mortgage early (saving interest payments) because we upgraded our purchase into a personal paradise.  Punishing people for being responsible is, nor will ever be a conservative principle.  I await your clarification.

It sounds like you have lived the "American Dream" much like my wife and I.  We purchased a modest home on the West side of Jacksonville in the early 1990's.  We worked hard, paid our mortgage off in a bit over 15 years.  Saved up money for several years then finally bought our "retirement" place.  We were able to both retire early (well before 60) and after turning 35+ acres of woods into an "estate" our property taxes are much higher than we ever paid.

The thing is, property taxes, especially for my place are way too high.  We have a modest 2000 sq. ft. home, a garage, a couple of barns and some fields with fruit and nut trees.  Suddenly this patch of woods is so "valuable" that our property taxes reflect that we live in a "mansion" or something.

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