Property Tax Responsibility Questions.... (sales, foreclosure, renting)

[inderocker]

I was checking out the breakdown of my property taxes and noticed a higher percentage of my property tax goes to Yavapai college than what is allotted for PUSD. Does anybody know why this is? It would seem to me that PUSD would get the lions share since you have to pay out of pocket each semester you attend Yavapai College.

[BriansPerspective]

Originally Posted by inderocker

I was checking out the breakdown of my property taxes and noticed a higher percentage of my property tax goes to Yavapai college than what is allotted for PUSD. Does anybody know why this is? It would seem to me that PUSD would get the lions share since you have to pay out of pocket each semester you attend Yavapai College.

As I understand, each taxing authority determines how much they will tax, up to some legal limit. The Yavapai College Board of Directors voted to raise their portion of property tax by 2% last year. Purportedly, the new funds were to be used as follows:

• Instructional quality (purchasing supplies and hiring additional instructors) — $125,000

• Student success (hiring a counselor and purchasing scheduling software for students) — $144,000

• Community engagement (increase outreach efforts and hiring a recruiter) — $120,000

• Planned and preventative maintenance — $507,100

[agorski]

During the recession the state legislature cut almost all support for community colleges and it has never been restored.

[AZgarden]

Originally Posted by agorski

During the recession the state legislature cut almost all support for community colleges and it has never been restored.

So, is Yavapai a Community College or a regular College? I see both names in several advertisements. Confusing.

[bigbuglf]

AZGarden: It is a community college.

[snebarekim]

If you look at Yavapai Community College tuition rates, it is clear the tuition is heavily subsidized.

[Hal Roach]

The CCs can serve a significant purpose, but in Arizona, it is often an educratic attempt to create yet another top heavy front office. I have been victimized by this twice. And it isn't until you see the line on your property tax bill, that you know you have been had, and it is only going to get worse. Mohave County opened a CC in BHC and they had a program to produce card dealers for the casinos across the river. Why were we subsidizing some of the largest corporations in the world? Santa Cruz County put a CC on the ballot, and the cronies came out of the sewers. Even though U of A already operated a satellite campus there, as well as Cochise College. All this with some of the highest sewer rates in the state. Fortunately, the city had bought a golf course a few years earlier, and the wounds from that debacle were still fresh.. the voters rejected it. But in short, it can be a relatively big amount on the long tax statement, while it serves very few (students).

[hellzbellz]

Nothing like paying cash for your home and then renting it from the state and county for the rest of your life.

[autism360]

Originally Posted by hellzbellz

Nothing like paying cash for your home and then renting it from the state and county for the rest of your life.

You would not like Chicago, I was told the tax on on 300,000 home is almost 12,000 a year

[Ex New Yorker]

Originally Posted by autism360

You would not like Chicago, I was told the tax on on 300,000 home is almost 12,000 a year

In Westchester County, New York ours was almost $12,000 a year on an 1100 sq. ft. 3bdr 1bth home that we sold for $285,000. That was 9 1/2 years ago. God only knows what they are now?

Unfortunately property taxes are a reliable source of money that is ripe for the taking. You have no choice but to pay them otherwise they'll put a lien on your home and force you into foreclosure. Which is almost like someone putting a gun to your head and saying: "Pay up or else".

This years property tax increase was mainly for the jail tax which voters had a say in. It was either that or a sales tax increase. At any rate they were going to build a new jail no matter what and had to come up with a way to pay for it. I voted for the sales tax, because this way everyone pays and not just property owners.

Whether we need a new jail or not is an open question? Someone stands to make a lot of money off this. Politicians get payed off and lucrative contracts are awarded. That's how government operates. Maybe we do need one? I really don't know but can't help but be skeptical. I just don't trust politicians.

But at least here in Yavapai County the people were allowed to vote on it. In New York we had no say whatsoever in these matters. They had an insatiable demand for more money, yet the overall quality of life for those who got stuck footing the bill never got any better. Tough luck, you just had to do without and struggle a little more. After all it was all for the "common good".

I have to agree with hellzbellz, post #8. "Nothing like paying cash for your home and then renting it from the state and county for the rest of your life."

Property taxes are basically unfair as they are not based on an individuals ability to pay. Especially for those on a fixed income, job loss, disability or medical emergency. It's also not fair that someone with a more expensive home pays more than someone with a less expensive one. As both receive the same amount of public services.

But no matter where you live government is a corrupt monopoly with an endless resource of money at their disposal and are accountable to no one. They can just p*ss it away as they see fit as they will never go out of business. We always end up footing the bill.