Property Tax Update

After I had posted my previous blog and my husband had read it, he came home and asked me a few questions about it. After some thought, I decided I needed to clarify a few things.

First off, I do realize that this is likely a borderline extreme view.

Secondly, my 'newly formed' opinion is not a super solid one, as this was the first time I'd brainstormed about the idea of property tax. I would not at all be offended if after the general population had put thought into it, decided that property tax was still justified for the purposes of firefighting, police, trash, water, snow removal, road maintenance, etc.

I also realize that there are very likely some technical issues on how this could or would be executed. I have, what I consider, an elementary understanding of politics, and therefore, I am more so in the stage of learning how it all works, and discovering my personal values as far as politics go.

This post was really meant more for bringing up topics that perhaps are not usually considered, and trying to stretch myself and my readers to do some critical thinking about how perhaps their 'ideal' government would work. I feel that if the wider American population put more thought into the basic principles and values of what government's role is, we would have a more diverse selection of candidates that had a fighting chance in each office.

I also think that the republican-democrat power struggle would be less of an issue if every American was researching all candidates of all affiliations, rather than voting for the guy that's most likely going to win the incumbent... or voting exclusively for one party. I feel that there are a far greater diversity of values, opinions, and morals than could possibly be represented by Republicans vs. Democrats. I would like the American people to discover their base values and then vote more on an individual basis rather than along party lines - which rarely does anyone 100% align with.

Property Tax

I have been working on filling out my ballot today about who I want to vote for in the coming November 2012 election, when I got side tracked on the question about Constitutional Amendment B - found on the following website: http://elections.utah.gov/racepdf/208528135/race/217170798.pdf

It asks if military personnel serving 200 days out of a year, can pass on paying property tax that year on their primary residence. The other property owners would make up the difference.

I started researching what property tax pays for. This list is as follows (with some variation between states):

- public education (elementary/middle), admins, teacher salary, state education (HS and college)

- city and county government salary and operations

- firefighters, police, outreach programs, library, trash, water, snow plowing

- infrastructure maintenance and improvements for roads, parks, buildings, community/senior centers, athletic fields, museums and shelters.

At first, I listed 'definitely charge property tax' as things that everyone would use or wants access to - police services, firefighting services, trash, water, snow plowing, road maintenance, etc... and then labeled the rest under 'definitely', 'maybe', and 'no.' But then I realized, renters don't pay property tax, but they use all of those services. And furthermore, my landlord does not live in the state, but she pays for these services which she does not use, on the renter's behalf. Theoretically this is reflected in our rental price agreement, however, I think that it would be well for renter's to realize that they DO PAY for government services, and it's NOT FREE nor is it an ENTITLEMENT. Therefore, I have decided that these services should be taxed to every person residing in America, no matter their property ownership status.

Secondly, an illegal immigrant will receive the same firefighting, trash, water, snow plowing, and road maintenance help that everyone else does, and therefore, they should also share the bill. 

In theory, we could just charge all USA residents a flat fee for government services, but it would do two things - cause undue financial stress to those who didn't have a job or income for a period of time; and two, favor the wealthy because it would feel like a small bill in comparison to their entire income.

So, in my opinion, the best way to pay for these services is through a flat income tax. Every working individual will be able to share the bill in a way that they can afford and that they can budget for. For example, if the federal government charged a 5% income tax, and so did the state, all working people would know they need to set aside 10% of each paycheck to pay towards taxes. A percentage of income does not encourage or discourage anyone to be rich or become poor. It would encourage a more transparent, simplifed tax and spending system. 

If any of my readers are freaking out about paying 10% of their income in taxes, I encourage you to add up how much you pay in federal tax, state tax, income tax, property tax, investment taxes, etc etc etc. Several newspapers and studies in the last year or so have reported that most Americans send about 50% of their income to taxes, when it all comes down to it. 

So, what about property tax? What would that cover? I sat thinking for a good 20 minutes about what property tax should cover - services for only property owners and not renters... and the only thing I could come up with is property/homeowner insurance. But the problem with charging for that, is that, for a rare person, who owns their property outright, having no loan or mortgage on it, why should they be required to pay property tax? A proper response might be, "so if there's a fire or mudslide or natural disaster, etc, they won't have lost everything." But what if that homeowner has the money to outright replace that property with the cash they've got saved up? Why pay someone else to insure your home if you've got it covered? Especially when disaster is an 'if'? Why pay insurance for years and years if the likelihood you'll ever need to use it is 1%? And you've insured yourself? 

So, I've come to the conclusion that property tax is 100% a way for government to tax citizens for services they don't want, need, or that fund services that more than just homeowners use. 

Secondly, I've decided that Homeowner's Insurance should be strongly advised for all those who do not outright own their homes (and some who do, whom do not have enough savings to replace it). Anyone who opts out of homeowner's insurance should be VERY AWARE that in case of Natural Disaster, etc, Nobody owes you anything. You are not Entitled to receive aid regarding Losing your House. I think if you can afford to purchase or make payments on a house, you should also be able to afford homeowner's insurance. 

Lastly, I don't believe in property tax because I can imagine an 80-year-old woman who lives in the mountains, 100 miles from the nearest grocery store; milks the cow, grows a garden, and lives 95% off of her own land - - sells only enough produce, etc, to buy a minimal of supplies (sugar, canning jars, etc) - - doesn't even use currency, and loses her home and property simply because she doesn't have a money-based paying job to pay the stupid property taxes.