At what point do the feds step in?

[paulxcook]

Today is election day, obviously. Recently our city-county council approved a re-assessment of property that increased everyones' property taxes, some by 700% or more. There was a public outcry and the governor stepped in and stopped it. Then they increased income taxes by 65%, but THEN trimmed the budget AFTER increasing taxes.

There have already been stories about multiple voters going to polls in the areas that were hit worst by the tax increases that mysteriously aren't on the registration lists. They were told to go to another location 30 blocks south, which also didn't have them on the list.

Stuff like this happens all too often in this city, and it's been going on since the mayor took over several years ago. It seems like too many of the city officials are in on this garbage, and there is documented footage on youtube in which voices of reason are shouted down, talked over, or otherwise ignored during city-county council sessions.

I don't think this election will fix anything. The local gov't is just too corrupt to let anything happen that would ruin this great thing they've got going.

At what point do federal investigators step in? Do the citizens have to ask for help? Have there been cases similar to such a situation in the past?

 

[waggy]

they wanted to raise property taxes %700 percent? uhh wow.

 

[paulxcook]

Originally posted by: waggy
they wanted to raise property taxes %700 percent? uhh wow.

There was a court ruling (and a correct one, IMO) in which it demanded that the huge disparity between taxes on new homes and taxes on existing-but-still-nice homes be remedied. So rather than actually do any work, the council decided they'd just tax everyone all to hell. Some people's taxes went up over 1200%, I kid you not.

 

[paulxcook]

Bump, anybody?

 

[techs]

Mysterious unregistered voters want to raise your taxes!
HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA!

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: paulxcook

Originally posted by: waggy
they wanted to raise property taxes %700 percent? uhh wow.

There was a court ruling (and a correct one, IMO) in which it demanded that the huge disparity between taxes on new homes and taxes on existing-but-still-nice homes be remedied. So rather than actually do any work, the council decided they'd just tax everyone all to hell. Some people's taxes went up over 1200%, I kid you not.

that would put me out of my house. come to th ink of it it would price nearly everyone around here out of the house.

 

[paulxcook]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: paulxcook

Originally posted by: waggy
they wanted to raise property taxes %700 percent? uhh wow.

There was a court ruling (and a correct one, IMO) in which it demanded that the huge disparity between taxes on new homes and taxes on existing-but-still-nice homes be remedied. So rather than actually do any work, the council decided they'd just tax everyone all to hell. Some people's taxes went up over 1200%, I kid you not.

that would put me out of my house. come to th ink of it it would price nearly everyone around here out of the house.

Exactly. It's nice that the Gov blocked it and they have to reassess everything. However, I think they're waiting til after elections to do that so that people can't do anything about it if they just raise them again.

Mine only went up a little, but property taxes aren't the only problem.

 

[waggy]

i find it unbeliavable they would try to raise taxes even that much.


how much are you paying for taxes? any amount with a %700 raise is err A fucking lot.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: techs
Mysterious unregistered voters want to raise your taxes!
HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA!

No no no, local voters should have been able to vote, but mysteriously weren't on the lists so they couldn't vote against the tax increases.

I know there were some local and county politicians in Florida who got busted for embezzling when I lived there. I think it was the state's bureau of investigations who busted them.

 

[pstylesss]

Can you joke about assassinations of council members?

 

[Aharami]

wow. that is like something i'd expect to happen in some third word country. Not in US! what city is this?

 

[paulxcook]

Originally posted by: waggy
i find it unbeliavable they would try to raise taxes even that much.


how much are you paying for taxes? any amount with a %700 raise is err A fucking lot.

Not everyone's went up that much. Mine, for example, "only" went up maybe 3-4%. I'm not sure, because after the protests the new taxes were blocked and I never actually had to pay the higher rate.

Originally posted by: Aharami
wow. that is like something i'd expect to happen in some third word country. Not in US! what city is this?

It's Indianapolis. I know, I find it unbelievable myself.