Comments on: Economics, Real Estate, Tax Lesson

By: John Mitchel

John Mitchel — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:54:45 +0000

Another little known ploy in the Idaho municipal budget process is the proclivity to budget a line item for much more than is required to ACTUALLY fund it. They do that little trick out here in Eagle and call it a “carryover” (they don’t like it to be called a “surplus”; that has bad implications). As an example, they budgeted $8438.00 for “Public Relations” under the Public Affairs and Community Relations section of the Executive Department: as of June 08 they only used $441. They will use this excess as a “carryover” (translated “slush fund” for OUR discretion next year since the voters are too dumb to allocate funds properly). (This is how they funded that “much needed” bike park off Hwy 55. Right now we have a 2 million dollar deficit in our little Eagle City budget. Are we reducing expenditures?? No. Staff?? NO.

Chet has it pretty much dialed in—insatiable government thirst with very little reponsibility.

There is one hope on our little council—Councilman Al Shoustarian who raised some red flags last summer—-rest of the council ignored him.

By: dog

dog — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:58:43 +0000

The property tax system is a Ponzi scheme. New growth tax pays for the pile of debt caused by unpaid for infrastructure caused by developers. What happens when the jobs dry up?

By: Tom Anderson

Tom Anderson — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:46:09 +0000

Bob McQuade: Thanks for checking, that is probably enough of a slap on the wrist.

Having been a software trainer with CompUSA for years, I would bet though, that there is no software program where two people would laugh at the screen for 10 minutes straight, trading each other amused glances, and never touching the keyboard.

If you wanted to take this further, I could meet you down there to see the people involved and point out the workstation where it happened. (When standing facing the vehicle registration desk it was at my 2 O’clock position)t2anderson@hotmail.com

By: Robert

Robert — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:26:34 +0000

Where did roto come from? BOB McQUADE office?

By: Gordon

Gordon — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 02:52:23 +0000

No matter what home prices do, I’ll betcha our taxes ain’t gonna go down noticeably.

By: Antiphobe

Antiphobe — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 22:47:17 +0000

No way roto I am hoisting the B.S. flag on you buddy. Give us one example of home that sold in 08 for more than 07. The only way that might have happened would be through manipulation of credit towards renovation or some such MLS shenanigan which is easy to do. Silence Phil and I by providing supporting your evidence.

By: roto

roto — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 16:22:41 +0000

Phil,

Perhaps you should go back to Real estate school and learn about paired sales before you spew garbage out of your mouth. Any idiot with MLS access can find paired sales where the same house is selling for more in 08 than in 07. Obviously, there are less of them in this market, but in certain neighborhoods they do exist. Get your facts straight before you post this garbage.

By: Bob McQuade

Bob McQuade — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 21:17:33 +0000

Within minutes of Tom Anderson’s posting on the GUARDIAN I checked out his complaint. Without a doubt he was simply mistaken.

The employees in question were a staffer and a supervisor. They were in training, learning a new computer program used in the office. The supervisor and staffer were working on COUNTY BUSINESS. I won’t tolerate improper use of county resources in my office, but I will certainly back up employees who are unfairly accused of improper behavior. BOB McQUADE, Assessor.

By: Ripped Off, One More Time

Ripped Off, One More Time — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 17:31:19 +0000

So, “the MEDIAN price is off only 4% on existing home sales while the MEDIAN price is off 38% on new home sales.”

That means that existing homes will now be charged a higher percentage of the county’s tax revenue requirement than will new homes.

And, if you think existing homeowners are already subsidizing growth in the valley, as I do, they will now be carrying an even bigger piece of the burden.

By: JIMV

JIMV — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:51:18 +0000

Idaho does property taxation pretty fairly. My old state used to revalue as often as possible when prices were rising but might wait a decade to revalue when prices fell. Annual assessments are at least honest.