EDITOR NOTE–Snoop. Give us more details here. To make sense, we need LAND values as well as IMPROVEMENTS. Also, we are all talking about 2007 at the present. Most common complaint is a higher exemption being offset by higher valuation overall, resulting in an estimated tax bill about 15-20% higher than 2006.

I do have some observations as far as your property tax woes.
a. You must have built one hell of a 2400 sq footer! How much gold, crystal and sculptured marble did you put in it? How many saddam style commodes and bidets does it have? “They” told you it is worth HOW much?
b. What neighborhood did you put it in? Must be on one dandy of a fancy view property.
c. What city limits are you in? You didn’t see this coming before you moved here and built your house?
d. Did you openly confront the assessor?
Has it dawned on you yet that you, and the hundreds of thousands of new folks just like you, ARE the problem? By all means, get out while you can. Even though my wife and I are Idahoans with all of our roots here we are looking around other states for a place to move. If we do get out of here alive it WILL NOT be to another place that is getting raped like Idaho has been.

We chose Boise as a location to settle. I saved as much as possible over my career
in preparation for buiding a nice 2400 sq ft house somewhere. I was able to do much
of the work myself to save on the over-all build cost.

I did not realize how expensive the property tax would be. Last year I paid $6,727.
and yesterday a new assessment shows $8,176.

What will the taxes be like in the future when we are relying on medi-care and
social security?
Seems like there should be a formula that takes into account your household income.

Another factor for me is the wages for an aircraft mechanic is far less here than in
most other states. I began traveling to CA to do part time contract work.

Do you think Ada Co will eventually get handle on this or should I start shopping
for a new city to live?

I guess they took into account my house is over 100 years old and rapidly deteriorating?

Watch all the politicians promise how they are going to tackle the property tax come election time. Hope you’re still excited about the new community college you just elected. How are we supposed to support a bond for something we really need with a property tax structure like this?

P.S. Mr. McQuade’s office informed me I made a good investment when I bought my property 15 yrs, ago.

Seriously, if you want things to be different you need to speak to the governing boards of all the taxing entities and impress upon them the need for them to start scrutinizing and cutting spending. They do not need to collect all the taxes their greedy little maws are presented with. You need to make them cognizant of the fact that government doesn’t need to do all things for all people. You need to do this BEFORE the budget hearing because if you wait until then, it’s too late. Those meetings are generally just rubber stamps.

The City elections are this November. Impress upon the Mayor and City council the need to reduce spending. Think about running for City Council or Mayor on a fiscally responsible and conservative platform.

You need to contact your legislators and make it clear to them that something needs to be done about the way property is assessed. One thing that might help is holding primary and bond elections after the assessment notices go out, not 1-2 weeks before. It may take a constitutional amendment, but that’s their job. This session is the last before the next election. This upcoming session will be the time when they pay attention, or at least as much attention of which they are capable.

SO to all you legistators – – thanks for nothing.

I talked to four people who called McQuade’s office asking for “details” on how the “appraisals” are done and all they got was the run around and they were told to file an appeal. I did the same thing and got NO DETAIL last year even after the appeal – just a bunch more double talk.

With the market flat how can anyone with even half a brain raise a lot price 33% – especally one with a 55 year old house on it.

These folks are way out of control – and we have no way to stop them.

Just wait until the $100 million Community College hits…..

And then the mayor, Clegg, Shealy and Ebberly want a 1/2 BILLION massive transit train system!!!!!!!