December 01, 2012

Tax Rates

Jahn:

The dual tax system has simply pitted residential property owners against commercial property owners.   What has happened? 

  • The Commercial tax base has eroded
  • As a result Residential and Commercial property owners end up  having to pay more taxes when the base erodes
  • Residential Property tax owners feeling the pinch, want the  "lowest residential" each year.  Since they have more votes they get it,
  • The Commercial tax base erodes further
  • Both Residential and Commercial property owners get him harder
  • Residents sceam "lowest" residential and get it
  • The Commercial tax base erodes more
Right now we are in an endless cycle that only everyone, both Commercial annd Residential.     The answer is we should have a "single" rate but there is absolutely no way to get there from here.

The next best thing is that we pass any increases or decreases along in the same percentage.   That way we end this Residential versus Commercial property owner.   The truth is we are all in this together and an equal increase or decrease would facilitate this.. 

Instead of fighting of rates, we can address issues that will increase the tax base thus lower any increases next year.   Like what:

  1. Philly Plan
  2. Support RKG Housing Plan
There are many more but these two alone would help the tax base.    Jahn, you need to look at this in the big picture.      Opposing forces now working together to increase the tax base is a huge win!!! 

7 comments:

Jahn said...

Bill, Time & again the business community's objective is to get their portion down. The C of C has failed at this. Not only have they failed, but those representing both the resd. and commercial payors are claiming that this so called meeting of the minds at a 4% increase for each is some kind of accomplishment toward the above objective.

The reality is the comm. property tax rate advocates want comm. payors to think that they (the C Of C) have somehow accomplished something toward lowering the portion that comm. property has to pay. Sorry, but this has not happened and ismore hogwash by all involved to say it does anything toward accomplishing the above objective.

It a misrepresentaion to say that the comm. property owners have gained any ground on this important issue. The only thing accomplished is that Chief Sitting Bull and the Pilgrims have sat down and smoked the peace pipe. The flaming arrows, musket balls, catapult launches, and scalping will begin again Monday morning at sunrise. :) as the comm. owners try to attain some semblance of parity and the residential owners continue to want the least possible residential rate. Goosing each other for 4% does NOTHING!!!!!!

Bill Randell said...

Jahn

You are so wrong on this..

Commercial property tax advocates do not thing they have lowered the burden on anyone???

What has been done here is to try and get Commercial and Residential property owners say "we are together on this".

We need to reduce expenses anyway we can together and look how to increase the tax base anyway we can together..

This is a huge deal for the City of Worcester. Do not see how you don't see this..

Better yet what Jahn proposal do you have that the City Council would approve?

Bill


Jahn said...

Bill, you are so wrong on this.

Bill said: "Commercial property tax advocates do not thing they have lowered the burden on anyone???"

Jahn says: Then what is all the celebrating, chest thumping, and news releases all about? Coming together? For what purpose? Sorry, but too much with the histrionics and too little on substance.

Bill says: "What has been done here is to try and get Commercial and Residential property owners say "we are together on this". "

Jahn says: Together on what and with what result? I mean big deal?? All taxpayers have always wanted the least costly city budget.


Bill says: "We need to reduce expenses anyway we can together and look how to increase the tax base anyway we can together"

Jahn says: Agreed, 110%. So where were these groups and individuals when the current year (FYE 2013) city budget was being developed? No where to be found or not heard from, that am aware of? I guess now they're just holding hands vs. previous years they werent holding hands? Showing up at tax rate setting time every December after the horse is out of the barn is too late. Not only is it too late, it is the same motis operandi year after year after year with what result?


Bill said: "This is a huge deal for the City of Worcester. Do not see how you don't see this..

JAHN said: Disagree. If it is such a huge deal, what is on the the agenda and the strategy for these groups and individuals for the FYE 2104 city Budget which budget is on the drawing board now?


Bill said: Better yet what Jahn proposal do you have that the City Council would approve?


Jahns said: I know it is easy for me to sit here criticize. What I would propose would never be accepted by the CC. What to do and what have I done about this? Well every other November I do not vote for 10 of the 11 incumbent CC'ors. I may or may not vote for a newbie, depending on who it is. Problem is the city employees have far too much of an influence on who wins CC elections which influence allows them to vote themselves money fromt eh city treasury. It is essentially SSDD ever November. The city has been technically bankrupt for years and it will only end when the money finally runs out and we may be approaching that now.

If these disparate groups want some advice, for openers, again let's take a look at the city employees who are out of work/"Injured on duty status"


Lastly, Anyone who thinks liberals, community organizers, and neighborhood activist types are going to solve Worc's budget woes....well I suggest you think again. Running prostitution out of Main South, B++++ing about residential tax rates, or whining about Shrews St merchants will not solve Worc's budgets woes. All it does is fill up T&G space. Sorry, but this all so Deval/Obama-esque..."Together We Can" & "Forward" type, substance-less platitudes will get us no where.



Bill Randell said...

Trust me nobody is thumping their chest looking at any of their tax bills

it is time we start working together versus against each other

Jahn said...

Good morning Bill, Monday morning though it is.

How about the commercial taxpayers march en masse on city hall some Tuesday night when the city budget is being discussed. After all this is what all the public employee groups do when it is suggested that maybe they will have to work an extra 1/2 per day w/o any add'l compensation or they may have to pay 2% more toward their health insurance......and most of the time it works. Get 1,000 commercial taxpayers down there. Just show up, be civil, and have a few chosen mouthpieces grab the microphone away from the CC'ors who never seem to stop talking and let the CC'ors sit up straight, heed, and listen to your message AND confiscate all their mobile communications devices before your spokesmen speak so there is no distraction ...esp the pink mobile devices :).

This city budget problems WILL NEVER, EVER, EVER be solved when so called community activists masquerade as part of the solution.
You are savvy enough to know this. Seems to me all these types want is more gov't money.

Bill Randell said...

Jahn

Great idea

it will never happen

I do not disagree with what you are saying but you need to deal in reality. This was something that could be done, was done and a huge positive step in the right direction.

You want to to work on the 1,000 commercial taxpayer walk, I will join you.


Bill

Jahn said...

And of course the CC just goes along with EXACTLY with what the C. of C. and neighborhoods recommend and all this after decades of the CC not even giving the C. of C. the time of day.

I am tired of being fed this kind of dog poop. The fix was in and even those in favor of neighborhood reefer dispensaries, who even after blowing a few joints and making a drop off at a city provided Yellow Box,
could see through this smoke.

PLus now CC has the perfect talking point when taxpayers are upset with their next tax bill.......Hey we gave ya the rate that the C. of C. and neighborhood group(s) wanted and supported so call them up and complain.

Please post an update as to how the C of C and the neighborhood groups intend to get FYE 2014 expenses trimmed becuz now is the time to address this and not next November.