Heavy Hitters!

Ok so if you apply for two building permits over the last 3 yrs, you are saying the city does not supply the county with that information (improvements on your house) and they (the assessor office) does not put you on a list to be checked or just automatically re-assessed just on the information alone supply when obtaining a building permit.
Cause it seems to me the $185 dollar increase on my prop. taxes was from the two projects to my property.
It seems like what most people are saying they (assessors office) is just basing all increases on home sales?
That to me seems more unfair.

My wife continues to threaten to leave Chas. or even WV and move to VA.

It seems everyday they keep giving her more ammo.

ibposing wrote:"but still.... the true fault lies with the mortgage companies and banks and appraisers." "So it's a collusion between the banks and appraisers."

So, if you pay $100,000 for a Cobalt, is it the greedy car salesman and dealership who are at fault, not you?

If the buyers didn't make the mistakes, why didn't more people go crazy and buy houses they couldn't afford. The government can't correct all of the mistakes made by those looking for a free lunch.

Ignorance can be remedied; stupidity is forever.

Ivan the Irrespecter

You are absolutely correct! Another thing:

The following "system" has gone on since the beginning of time: When an area becomes popular (Like Teays Valley for instance) and even if you live in a VERY modest home... you soon wont be able to afford to live there, even if you or your family has lived there for generations. California has an interesting way to get around this: The old property owners pay a "standard tax", no matter HOW popular the area becomes. Once they sell the property however, that property then reverts to the new appraisals from then on out. Here... we simply tax people off their property (like common Communists) so that the man with the money can move in.... so as to pay the government it's filthy lucre.

"You are absolutely correct!"

Ask the middle class people who moved to Florida in the 70s, 80s, and 90s what has happened to them. The more unfortunate ones have moved. What with increased property taxes and insurance, they can no longer afford to live in their house.

This is happening in Charleston to a lesser extent. As the politicians take more money in taxes by increasing property values, the cost of insurance increases. And to top it off, the services get worse.

Have you paid attention to the number of for sale signs in your neighborhood? I see more all the time principally because houses in Charleston are NOT selling. Why buy here, when other counties have contemporary houses with lower taxes and insurance? The only large employer in Charleston is government. Unfortunately everyone can't work for the government.

Ivan the Irrespecter

Jerry wrote:Today I received a notice in the mail that the Kanawha County Assessors office has re-assessed my property from last year... to the tune of ANOTHER TWO HUNDRED SIXTY TWO DOLLARS!

That is exactly what my increase was. They must have just sent out a mass mailing.

Why dont we start a Bill to reflect what many other states have done?:

Some states don't raise property taxes until you sell, and the selling price reflects the updated tax. Some states (like Florida) only allow a 3% tax increase for current residents.... no matter HOW popular the area becomes to new buyers.

THAT'S WHAT WE NEED HERE TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT FROM THROWING OLD FOLKS OUT OF THEIR HOMES JUST SO THEY CAN GET WEALTHIER PEOPLE INTO THEM!

STOP THE MADNESS!

Wait.

If they reassessed your property, and tacked on another 200 bucks, that only translates into like an extra dollar in taxes or something. And unless you live in a shack (and I'm guessing you don't), an increase in value of 200 bucks, isn't much.

Or are you saying, they reassessed your property (whatever the value of it is) and your TAXES (ie, what you have to pay) increased 200 bucks?

Because those are two entirely different things.

bingmanch wrote:Wait. Or are you saying, they reassessed your property (whatever the value of it is) and your TAXES (ie, what you have to pay) increased 200 bucks?

Because those are two entirely different things.

Yes. Add $265 to what I'm already paying. The things that really pisses me off more than anything is that they are simply going by what homes in the area sold for over the last couple of years. And I know for a FACT that several people in my neighborhood paid far above the fair market value for their homes, because they got those sleazy sub-prime mortgages. So because THEY were stupid, the County thinks I am too.

This is the exact reason we must demand a program like Florida & California!

Weelll, quit grippin' and let's go for it!!

I'll help you if you let me know what I can do!

Last week we were supposed to be glad that "someone" just innocently found over $800,000 of taxpayer money laying around. Now this week we're raising hell because our taxes went up. Will we swallow an elephant and gag on a gnat? It appears so.

THAT money was from the sheriffs dept fund. (most likely a lot of gun permit money) THIS MONEY IS COMING RIGHT OUT OF MY DAMNED POCKET VERY SOON! Do you not understand the difference?

Rising tax values are not usually a popular thing, but homeowners tend to accept it, even begrudgingly, when they know the market value of their home is on the rise. But the minute you think that your local government assessment practices are out of whack with what is happening in the market,” you will not accept it. That's where I and my neighbors are now


Many Minnesota homeowners are learning that their property taxes are expected to rise even as the housing market slumps, a reflection of rising city costs, ...
www.startribune.com/politics/11920051.html


Pennsylvania Real Estate Market News
Taxes on the rise in Clarion County (The Courier Express) ... Nation’s housing market slump clouds state’s financial horizon (The Citizens' Voice) ...
www.iqrealestate.com/StateNews.cfm/State/Pennsylvania


Real estate slump tough on Midwest | csmonitor.com
Here in South Bend, realtor Bruce Gordon says a weak economy with state property tax hikes have dampened housing. "It's a way different market, ...
www.csmonitor.com/2006/1103/p01s01-usec.html


Housing.com - Housing and Real Estate Market News
Frustration Builds As Property Taxes Rise .... Now, with the housing market in a slump, the state is taking the lead in tackling one of the boom's more ...
www.housing.com/news?categoryId=22&dispatch=listStories


Property-Tax Frustration Builds - MarketWatch
In Florida, where the falling housing market has gouged the state's economy, residents are debating massive property-tax cuts that will be voted on Jan. 29. ...
www.marketwatch.com/.../story.aspx?guid ... 5994381%7D - 59k -

USA - housing slump
Slump in housing market may mean decline in property taxes ... Valley homeowners upset about the fast rise in their property-tax assessments may feel some ...
www.feedzilla.com/search/USA/housing%20slump


Forecast: Economy will survive housing slump North County Times ...
The continued housing market slump will haunt the state's already beleaguered budget. The state expects to receive $686 million less in property taxes next ...
www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/12/06/bus ... 2_5_07.txt

taking down words: National Focus: Property Taxes On The Rise Here ...
The amount paid in local and state property taxes in the country ... and its relationship to the declining housing market -- in yesterday's edition: ...
www.takingdownwords.com/taking_down_wor ... focus.html

_______________________________________________

I could fill this message board with links to the fact that America's morons purchased more house than they could afford with sleazy sub prime mortgages (or just plain greed-stupidity) and now there's an increase in property taxes due to it. Problem is... the bubble has burst and now we're going down... while government is trying to make us "rational" folks pay for the mistakes of others!

I just see it as $20 increase in my house payment because the escrow contribution will have to raise. The attitude has become.... oh well, it's just 20 dollars a month. Oh well, it's just a little measly dollar a week added to the fee... Anyone can afford that! Enough "little" increases at one time = one big increase. Like someone said, they just found money they didn't even know they had, why don't they give some of that back in the form of not raising taxes for once in their life.

SOME REALLY BORING TAX HISTORY AND INFORMATION:

The current structure of West Virginia's property taxes is based to a large degree on the 1932 Tax Limitation Amendment to the Constitution of West Virginia. Although many states have tax limitation amendments, the West Virginia provision is somewhat unique in its approach. The Amendment was passed during the Great Depression of the 1930s when continued high property taxes were causing economic hardship and tax defaults. It severely restricted the amount of property taxes by categorizing all property into four classes with maximum tax rates for each class.

The 1932 Tax Limitation Amendment also allowed three year excess levies of up to 50 percent of the basic rates for counties, municipalities and schools if 60 percent of the voters in those jurisdictions approved. In addition, it allowed counties, municipalities and schools to pass bond issues, to be paid for by taxes in excess of the basic levy rate, if 60 percent of those voting on the bond proposal approved. The amount of the bonds is limited to 5 percent of the total assessed value during the year preceding the bond issue. The excess levies and bond provisions for schools have been modified in recent years.

A series of amendments have been passed to protect or promote the financing of West Virginia's public schools. One permitted the legislature to require that schools receive funding at the maximum allowable rate. Another, adopted in 1957, modified the procedures under which school boards could submit levy and bond proposals to the voters. Instead of being limited to a three year levy, school levies could be for a five year period and could be renewed every five years. In addition, school levies could be up to 100 percent instead of 50 percent of the basic rate for each property class. Moreover, in 1982, another amendment reduced the percentage needed to approve school levy and bond proposals from 60 percent to a simple majority of voters. Also in 1982, the legislature authorized the presentation to the voters a statewide excess levy to support public schools.


The homestead exemption is another area which results in unfairly distributed tax burdens when ability to pay is a consideration. Currently, persons 65 years of age and older as well as permanently disabled persons receive a $20,000 dollar assessment exemption from taxes for owner-occupied residences. This is a blanket exemption that is received regardless of the person's income. Some other states that have similar exemptions use a "circuit breaker" or other provision to make eligibility for or size of the exemption dependent on the taxpayers income.
The current Homestead Exemption of $20,000 has been in place (and not changed) since 1982.

The 1982 Tax Limitation and Homestead Exemption Amendment was potentially the most important constitutional change affecting property taxes in West Virginia since the 1932 Tax Limitation Amendment. Assessment practices from the 1950s and earlier had created a large and increasing gap between the market values of real estate and the values at which they were appraised, assessed and taxed. This resulted in relatively low real estate property taxes. The 1982 amendment prescribed a revaluation of all real estate in West Virginia such that they would be assessed and taxed at 60 percent of their market values instead of 100 percent. It also permitted the Legislature to establish a higher percentage if two thirds of the members elected to each house approved. Because property tax collections were expected to increase substantially after the reappraisal, they were to be phased in over a ten year period with one tenth of the increase to take effect each year. Most of the reappraisal was carried out in 1983-84 by a privately owned firm contracted by the state. It was to be implemented in 1985 but conflicts arose between the administration and the legislature elected in 1984 and the Statewide Reappraisal Program was never put into effect.

Overall administration of taxes, including property taxes, is the responsibility of the State Tax Commissioner, an officer appointed by the Governor. The Tax Commissioner has substantial powers in property taxation, especially under the 1990 legislation. The new legislation requires the formation of a "property valuation training and procedures commission" which will have broad powers in establishing procedures for property evaluation and for the training and certification of county assessors and many of their employees, as well as all County Commissioners.

Three property values are relevant when evaluating the property tax situation in West Virginia: 1) market values, 2) appraised values, and 3) assessed values. The market value is the amount a property should sell for in a voluntary exchange between informed and unrelated buyers and sellers. The appraised value is the value placed upon a property by the tax authorities. The property's appraised value is supposed to be equivalent to its market value, but historically has tended to be much lower than market values. For example, a study of property assessments in 1972 revealed that properties were assessed at about one third of their sales values, with county averages varying from 10 to 53 percent (Levy and Colyer 1975). Later studies revealed that the difference between market and assessed values in West Virginia have grown even larger since the early 1970s. Assessments in 1980 averaged 27.6 percent of sales values, with a range between counties of 19.5 to 45.0 percent. In 1988, assessments still averaged only 29.85 percent of sales values (Department of Tax and Revenue, 1989). Finally, the assessed value is the value used to calculate the taxes owed. Currently, the assessed value is set by state law at 60 percent of the appraised value.

The 1990 legislation gave new property valuation powers and duties to the State Tax Commissioner. These include determining the methods of valuation for real and personal property, including motor vehicles, managed timberland, farmland, and public utility property (former 18-9A-11 provisions). For the valuations the Commissioner must develop and follow plans which must be approved by Valuation Commission; provide the new values within three years of approval of the valuation plans; decide when, how, and what must be reported by the property-owners; maintain accurate values, send them to the appropriate county assessor, and provide support data needed to evaluate appraisals. The county assessors then multiply the values by 60 percent and place them on the tax rolls. The 1990 legislation created an eleven-member Property Valuation Training and Procedures Commission, to be under the State Tax Department and to include the State Tax Commissioner who will serve as chairperson. The other members are three county assessors, five citizens of the state (one a certified appraiser), and two county commissioners. All are to be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the State Senate. Nominees for the positions held by county assessors and county commissioners are submitted to the Governor by the West Virginia Assessor's Association and the County Commissioner's Association, respectively. All members, except the Tax Commissioner, are to be appointed to four-year terms. No more than seven members of the commission can belong to the same political party.

Generally, when the revaluations would result in a total tax collection greater than 101 percent of the previous years collections, the levy rates must be reduced proportionately between the county commission and the municipalities for all classes of property. The levy rate is to be reduced so as to produce no more than one hundred one percent of the previous year's projected property taxes. However, the county commission and/or municipal governments can increase their taxes by not more than ten percent over the previous year after justifying the need and holding a public hearing to discuss the increase. Special levies are not included in the reduced levy calculations.

School Board Levies

The school board levy rate provision is similar to that for municipal and county commission levy rates. The rate must be adjusted downward if the revaluation results in an increase of more than one percent in projected tax collections. However, this process is under state jurisdiction. The county school levies are to be aggregated to the state level. If the aggregate projected tax collections using existing levy rates exceed 101 percent of the previous years collections the levy rate must be adjusted downward. The school levy rate will be uniform for all counties. The state legislature can decide by law, after a public hearing, whether to increase the school levy rate. There is no ten percent limit on the total annual increase in taxes for the schools.

Special Levies

If there is any special levy by a county school board, municipality or county commission in effect as of March 1, 1990 that increases revenues by four percent or more as a result of the revaluation then a public hearing must be held to discuss reducing the special levy rate. But no levying body can reduce the special levy rate if it has been covenanted or otherwise dedicated and is necessary to pay bonds or other obligations. Essentially, no reduction has to occur if the levying body makes commitments on these funds.

County Commission

As the valuations of property in a county are completed, the assessor delivers them to the County Commission, sitting as a Board of Equalization and Review. The Board uses the appraised valuation as a basis for determining the true and actual value of the property. Any property owner can appeal to the Board if he/she feels that his/her property is unfairly valued.

Notification

If the assessed value of a property is more than ten percent higher than in the previous tax year, the assessor must notify the property owner in writing. This notice must be made at least fifteen days prior to the first meeting of the Board of Equalization and Review which is held in February each year. To assist property owners in understanding the revaluations the Property Valuation and Training Procedures Commission is charged with developing a pamphlet explaining the reappraisal process and its equalization goal. The pamphlet is to be made available to all property owners.

Property taxes are less important as a source of state and local tax revenue in West Virginia than is typical for the United States. Only 16.5 percent of the state's revenue is from property taxes compared to an average of 29.7 for all states. The difference is made up largely by higher sales tax collections in West Virginia. While the Tax Limitation Amendment probably contributes to this difference, the primary cause has been the failure to appraise and assess real estate at values close to their actual values.

Personal property taxes for individuals in West Virginia consist primarily of taxes on automobiles. These are updated annually and are the one species of property where the appraised values are close to fair market values, although the valuation process does not account for differences in accessories on similar models of cars. This results in relatively high personal property taxes. The limitation of a one percent annual increase in total taxes on existing properties and the subsequent decrease in the tax rate could result in lower taxes on such personal property. Thus, implementation of the 1990 legislation probably will result in a redistribution of property tax burdens with real estate owners paying a larger share of the total property taxes.

Florida Property Tax Valuation and Income Limitation Rates

(This program is called "Save Our Homes" law)

As provided in Section 193.155(1), F.S., beginning in 1995, or the year after the property receives homestead exemption, an annual increase in assessment shall not exceed the lower of the following:

1. Three percent of the assessed value of the property for the prior year; or
2. The percentage change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all urban consumers, U.S. city average, all items 1967 = 100 or successor reports* for the preceding calendar year as initially reported by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

*The current successor report is the 1982 - 84 = 100 current series.

Save Our Homes Annual Increase
Year CPI Change Cap

2008
4.10% 3.00%

2007
2.50% 2.50%

2006
3.40% 3.00%
2005 3.30% 3.00%
2004 1.90% 1.90%
2003 2.40% 2.40%
2002 1.60% 1.60%
2001 3.40% 3.00%
2000 2.70% 2.70%
1999 1.60% 1.60%
1998 1.70% 1.70%
1997 3.30% 3.00%
1996 2.50% 2.50%
1995 2.70% 2.70%
_______________________________________________

Total and Permanent Disability Income Limitations

This represents the maximum income limitation for the total and permanent disability exemption granted under the provisions of section 196.101(4)(b), F.S. The limitation is adjusted annually by the percentage change in the average cost-of-living index during the immediate prior year.

Total and Permanent Disability Income Limitations
Year % Change Cap
2008 2.90% $24,289.00
2007 3.20% $23,604.00
2006 3.40% $22,872.00
2005 2.70% $22,121.00
2004 2.30% $21,539.00
2003 1.60% $21,055.00
2002 2.80% $20,723.00
2001 3.40% $20,159.00
2000 2.20% $19,496.00
1999 1.60% $19,076.00
1998 2.30% $18,776.00
1997 3.00% $18,354.00
1996 2.80% $17,819.00
1995 2.60% $17,334.00
__________________________________________________

Cost of Living Adjustments

This represents the maximum income limitation for exemptions granted under the provisions of section 196.1975(4), F.S. The limitation is adjusted annually by the percentage change in the annual cost-of-living index during the immediate prior year.

Year Change% Adjusted Income Limitation
**************Single Person Couples
2008 2.90% $27,539.00 $30,917.00
2007 3.20% $26,763.00 $30,046.00
2006 3.40% $25,933.00 $29,114.00
2005 2.70% $25,082.00 $28,159.00
2004 2.30% $24,423.00 $27,419.00
2003 1.60% $23,874.00 $26,803.00
2002 2.80% $23,498.00 $26,381.00
2001 3.40% $22,858.00 $25,662.00
2000 2.20% $22,106.00 $24,818.00
1999 1.60% $21,630.00 $24,284.00
1998 2.30% $21,289.00 $23,902.00
1997 3.00% $20,810.00 $23,365.00
1996 2.80% $20,204.00 $22,684.00
1995 2.60% $19,654.00 $22,066.00
__________________________________________________

Additional Homestead Exemption for Persons 65 and Older

As provided in Section 196.075, F.S., in accordance with s. 6(f), Art. VII of the State Constitution, the board of county commissioners of any county or the governing authority of any municipality may adopt an ordinance to allow an additional homestead exemption of up to $25,000 for any person who has the legal or equitable title to real estate and maintains thereon the permanent residence of the owner, who has attained age 65, and whose household income does not exceed the current adjusted income limitation in the chart to the right.

This exemption applies only to tax millage levied by the county or city that enacts the exemption, and does not apply to millage of school districts or other taxing authorities.

Senior Homestead Exemption
Year %Change Adjusted Income Limitation
2008 2.90% $24,916.00
2007 3.20% $24,214.00
2006 3.40% $23,463.00
2005 2.70% $22,693.00
2004 2.30% $22,096.00
2003 1.60% $21,599.00
2002 2.80% $21,259.00
2001 3.40% $20,680.00

_________________________________________________

Questions & Answers

http://dor.myflorida.com/dor/property/r ... 112107.pdf

I assume that has an exception for new construction or remodeling of a home?

A tiny portion of California tax code:

Your property tax bill consists of three separate categories of levies: General Tax Levy, Voter Approved Indebtedness, and Direct/Special Assessments.

That portion of the bill labeled General Tax Levy is the only amount controlled by Proposition 13. This tax is limited to a maximum of 1% of the assessed value of your property (the "land" and "improvements"), and can be no more than 2% greater than the previous year's tax bill.

( Here in West Virginia, you can be assessed 10% or more PER YEAR, as we have been this past week. )