[squarpeg]

Originally Posted by mikeugh

This notion is exactly the problem. Plenty of states ship their problems to others and wash their hands of it. The number of one way bus tickets given to people to California, Oregon, and a few others states over the last few decades is staggering. Yet, while places like California receive them, then those other states point fingers at California and complain about how they have such problems. Many, if not most, of those problems aren't home grown in California (or wherever).

Communities need to step up and address the problems they are fundamentally contributing to, not try to push the problems off on others. There is so much research on why people turn to drugs, how to keep them away from that path, and how to help them have successful lives. We just don't want to do it, because, taxes are baaad and "socialism" (which means anything that helps anyone) is bad.

Well I don't think my suggestion of dropping useless drug addicts off at the border is actually "the problem" However I do understand your point, lets not mix immigrants being bussed to areas with general drug addicts. Two different issues. I'm the first person that thinks we should help folks. I'm all for that. The question in my mind after actually seeing for myself what is going on , is what do you do with people that do not want help? They are happy to take handouts, but there is no effort on their part to get off the hamster wheel. I want to offer assistance, but it is a two way street. There are plenty of needy people trying hard to get their lives together. Lets support those people. Otherwise your on your own. Driving folks to the border might be a metaphor. You get the point. We can start thinking of options for folks that have no interest in contributing to our town.

[looking4home]

Originally Posted by NYLIER

Now that the state is pushing to take over property reappraisals, you are going to see a lot more homeowners put their houses on the market and run south. This is going to be the point of no return for some.

What is this about the state taking over property reappraisals?! Property taxes in Vermont are high enough and now they are looking for ways to increase it?

[Riley.]

Originally Posted by looking4home

What is this about the state taking over property reappraisals?! Property taxes in Vermont are high enough and now they are looking for ways to increase it?

Where did you hear this about the state taking over property appraisals?
Of course, I wouldn't doubt that it's true and a way to squeeze every dollar out of VT residents. They are pretty much a one-trick pony down there in Montpelier.

[Riley.]

Originally Posted by mikeugh

This notion is exactly the problem. Plenty of states ship their problems to others and wash their hands of it. The number of one way bus tickets given to people to California, Oregon, and a few others states over the last few decades is staggering. Yet, while places like California receive them, then those other states point fingers at California and complain about how they have such problems. Many, if not most, of those problems aren't home grown in California (or wherever).

Communities need to step up and address the problems they are fundamentally contributing to, not try to push the problems off on others. There is so much research on why people turn to drugs, how to keep them away from that path, and how to help them have successful lives. We just don't want to do it, because, taxes are baaad and "socialism" (which means anything that helps anyone) is bad.

"....you can lead a horse to water....."

[squarpeg]

Originally Posted by looking4home

What is this about the state taking over property reappraisals?! Property taxes in Vermont are high enough and now they are looking for ways to increase it?

As far as I can figure the state is not "taking over" appraisals. They are certifing who can do appraisals. It used to be some guy in our town, your neighbor. Now the town is required to use a trained appraiser. The last guy that came out to assess us was from a company called Patriot Properties Inc. It used to be my drinking buddy at the bar.

[NYLIER]

Originally Posted by squarpeg

As far as I can figure the state is not "taking over" appraisals. They are certifing who can do appraisals. It used to be some guy in our town, your neighbor. Now the town is required to use a trained appraiser. The last guy that came out to assess us was from a company called Patriot Properties Inc. It used to be my drinking buddy at the bar.

As far as I know, the Bill just passed last month. The state will be doing reappraisals, not the towns. The reason given was because the town listers weren't being fair to black communities. They were appraising them much higher. I actually didn't know Vermont had any black communities. The bill also stated that some of the towns hadn't done reappraisals in ten years.

I think they are going to reappraise the properties much higher and the taxes are going to hit every homeowner hard. They are trying to get blood from a stone at this point. I have no idea why a company would reappraise your house but like I said, this bill just passed.

They also passed a Bill to have the state collect the redemption from bottles. The bill stated they were going to double the fee and it isn't going to be as convenient as just bringing the bottles to the store. It will also take the business away from family owned redemption centers.

[NYLIER]

Originally Posted by looking4home

What is this about the state taking over property reappraisals?! Property taxes in Vermont are high enough and now they are looking for ways to increase it?

Yes, the Bill just passed and the state is going to do the reappraisals. It stated the reasons as the towns aren't reappraising enough and the listers aren't being fair to black communities.

[NYLIER]

Originally Posted by Riley.

Where did you hear this about the state taking over property appraisals?
Of course, I wouldn't doubt that it's true and a way to squeeze every dollar out of VT residents. They are pretty much a one-trick pony down there in Montpelier.

Riley, I go on the VT Legislator website and read the Bills that our gov't is submitting and who the sponsors are. You would be appalled at what they are passing. Ninety nine percent is not to help make life easier for us, it is only to figure out a way to raise our taxes. Also, it seems they are using the word "equity" quite a lot in these bills. They passed the Bill to take the reappraisals away from each Town and now the state is going to do them. Unfortunately, they get away with it because the taxpayers don't ban together and demand "Enough is enough".

[squarpeg]

Originally Posted by NYLIER

As far as I know, the Bill just passed last month. The state will be doing reappraisals, not the towns. The reason given was because the town listers weren't being fair to black communities. They were appraising them much higher. I actually didn't know Vermont had any black communities. The bill also stated that some of the towns hadn't done reappraisals in ten years.

I think they are going to reappraise the properties much higher and the taxes are going to hit every homeowner hard. They are trying to get blood from a stone at this point. I have no idea why a company would reappraise your house but like I said, this bill just passed.

They also passed a Bill to have the state collect the redemption from bottles. The bill stated they were going to double the fee and it isn't going to be as convenient as just bringing the bottles to the store. It will also take the business away from family owned redemption centers.

I don’t have the same issues people are expressing here. It seems like having individual towns be in charge of reappraisals hasn’t worked that well as some towns haven’t reappraised in 10 years. Well guess what, those people have been sliding by. Taxes are equitable only when applied equally to all.

[looking4home]

Originally Posted by squarpeg

I don’t have the same issues people are expressing here. It seems like having individual towns be in charge of reappraisals hasn’t worked that well as some towns haven’t reappraised in 10 years. Well guess what, those people have been sliding by. Taxes are equitable only when applied equally to all.

There are ways to remedy fairness issues without the sledgehammer of state government coming down on property owners who already pay high property taxes. They could have required towns to reappraise property every four years or whatever standard they decide would be more “equitable”.

Vermont has an unhealthy economy in case you haven’t noticed. It’s the Haves and Have-Nots with a small middle class. They are chasing away their tax base with these stupid and arbitrary laws dreamed up leftist kooks who are instituting a neo-Marxist agenda in a small, rural state with an aging population and a dysfunctional economy and laws like this are only making it worse. Just so radical, leftist virtue-signaling trust funders can run their little socialist experiments at Vermonters’ expense.