I really hate this damn country...

[PrinceofWands]

Originally posted by: CPA

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands
The tax rate is fixed year to year by the government (usually including a public vote to allow any increases). However the value of the home is fixed by the county assessor and apparently not always honestly...since my home has not doubled in value in the last 3 years.

So like already mentioned, if the people don't approve a rate increase the only way the government can change the amount collected is to alter the appraised value of the home. So far this appears to be the most logical explanation for my situation.

This is going on across a lot of local and state government because of their budget shortfalls.

Some guy (generally the appraiser so he can move up) has this idea:
"You see, all we have to do is appraise the homes higher. Most everybody will just moan about it, but pay anyway - it's like FREE MONEY! And for the very few that do follow their appropriate channels, they'll pay what they did last year (or the proper amount based on the real property value) so we still get our money! We're talking 10s of millions!

HEAR, HEAR!
BRILLIANT!
AYE!
"

Which is why this post was titled: I really hate this damn country... and not 'I really hate Cowlitz County WA'. My hatred is about the mindset this allows this abuse, and encourages a love of money.

it doesn't encourage a love of money, it encourages the upkeep of all of the social programs upkeep that you and your fellow state and county citizens were probably clamoring for over the last 10-15 years. This is what you get when government gets too big.

I've done my part...vote at least 1/3 libertarian and campaign against the big two to everyone I can. Until something breaks the two-party hold there's very little hope of change though. 8-(

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: thepd7

Originally posted by: Vonkhan
I'm not American ... but I think America's pretty cool (except for its current King)

The fact that you called our President "ruler" tells me all I need to know about your knowledge of America.

Corrected

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands

Originally posted by: Svnla
$10/hr is good salary? And I thought down South here, the pay is low.

The OP profile says he is from Washington state. I heard that Seattle/Tacoma area is very darn expensive to live <housing speaking>.

This county was entirely resource based...specifically timber/pulp (well, for a short time aluminum).

Now that the industry is pretty much dead there's nothing left here.

30k people in the town and hardly a job worth talking about.

Then why are you and the 30K people still there?

Long past time to make that a ghost town.

 

[Braznor]

Fortunately People who hate America have others willing to switch places with them.

 

[PrinceofWands]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands

Originally posted by: Svnla
$10/hr is good salary? And I thought down South here, the pay is low.

The OP profile says he is from Washington state. I heard that Seattle/Tacoma area is very darn expensive to live <housing speaking>.

This county was entirely resource based...specifically timber/pulp (well, for a short time aluminum).

Now that the industry is pretty much dead there's nothing left here.

30k people in the town and hardly a job worth talking about.

Then why are you and the 30K people still there?

Long past time to make that a ghost town.

*shrug* people have homes here...friends, family, memories, etc. Things are tough all over, and moving incurs costs. Probably a number of other reasons as well, depending on the person.

There are still a good number of people in the world who care about place. Not as many as it used to be, or in other cultures, but we're still around.

 

[lokiju]

Move to another country then?