| If you have read my other articles here, | | | | as the trauma generated by a bad |
| you might have noted the psychological | | | | surprise. So please don't tell me that |
| approach towards subject matter. | | | | you were actually expecting that your |
| Therefore, as you have probably guessed | | | | latest property tax bill was going to be |
| from the title, this article on property | | | | twice the amount it was the previous |
| tax is not going to be any different. | | | | year, because I won't believe you. |
| After all, the years spent earning | | | | Heaven knows, citizens have fought, and |
| degrees in neurobehavioral psychology | | | | continue to fight the good fight to try |
| should not be wasted. | | | | and shield themselves from the |
| Certainly, I could have chosen to write | | | | experience, but the results have been |
| about property tax with a presentation | | | | somewhat mixed. California property |
| of numerous facts, figures, rules and | | | | owners did it with proposition 13, |
| regulations, but then this is | | | | Oregon tried something similar, followed |
| information you can easily find for | | | | by other states, yet nothing stopped the |
| yourself. However, if facts and figure | | | | upward trajectory, it was only slowed |
| are what you are after then you can go | | | | and then only for a while. |
| to properties-tax dot com to get them. | | | | Now, on the heels of the real estate |
| Not that we can guarantee that you won't | | | | boom, some states such as Florida, have |
| find a single fact somewhere in this | | | | actually had their property taxes, sans |
| article, but mainly what we're going to | | | | a couple of dollars, double. Of course, |
| be discussing is angst. Specifically, | | | | the real estate boon has fizzled, |
| that day certain annual angst | | | | property values have declined, and it |
| experienced by property owners with the | | | | seems that many property owners were |
| arrival of the property tax bill that | | | | somehow expecting that those declining |
| will tell them how much he/she must pay | | | | values would be reflected in their |
| should they desire to continue their | | | | property tax bill. In other words, they |
| relationship with the property. While it | | | | were expecting a 'good surprise', which |
| is true that some property owners | | | | made the actual bill a much worse 'bad |
| miss-out on this intense emotional | | | | surprise'. Worse still, there is no on |
| experience, because their tax is | | | | to argue with over it. Oh, I suppose |
| included with the mortgage payment, do | | | | one could argue it if they really wanted |
| not be fooled. They are no less | | | | to. They could file a formal complaint, |
| affected, it just that their feelings | | | | demand a hearing, look for an attorney |
| about it are more or less staggered | | | | to mount a battle, and protest by not |
| throughout the year. | | | | paying their property tax bill, but that |
| In which case, what is it about that | | | | does present the inherent danger that by |
| property tax bill that makes the paying | | | | the time such a fight makes its way |
| of it different from let's say income | | | | through the system, the property in |
| tax or sales tax? Well, for starters, | | | | question will have been auctioned off. |
| it is a bill, and it is one of the few | | | | However, so as not to end this article |
| bills we receive that lacks for prior | | | | on a sour note, consider that it is the |
| warning of how much is due on it. We | | | | property taxes you pay that provide for |
| are forewarned if sales taxes are going | | | | services to you and your community such |
| up, we know ahead of time if we are | | | | as education, libraries, roads, |
| going to be paying more in income tax, | | | | hospitals and emergency services. |
| not so with property tax. Simply, our | | | | Admittedly, while you may not be in full |
| mind does not have time to adjust to one | | | | agreement with exactly how the officials |
| of the things it hates most, namely 'bad | | | | are managing your money, hopefully, just |
| surprises'. And don't even think that | | | | knowing that it is going towards good |
| expecting the possibility of 'bad news, | | | | use, will bring you some reprieve from |
| is the same as a 'bad surprise'. While | | | | the fear and loathing that might be |
| the expectation of bad news may make a | | | | generated by the arrival of your next |
| person nervous it is simply not the same | | | | property tax bill. |