Property tax in the valley... (Anchorage, Fairbanks: insurance, transfer, school)

[New_Horizon]

Originally Posted by Glitch

Except for the fact that average property values in Michigan are a fraction of what they are in Alaska, so even at a Mill Rate of 20 the property tax is still less.

The estimated median house or condo value in Harbor Springs, Michigan for 2007: $237833,
Same estimated median house or condo value in Wasilla, AK for 2007:$94474
source: city data

I think the figures speak for themselves, coupled with the fact for our taxes in Michigan which were approximately $3000 a year we had no street lighting on our Street and precious little else, we did however pay for the local cemetry.

[Marty Van Diest]

Originally Posted by New_Horizon

The estimated median house or condo value in Harbor Springs, Michigan for 2007: $237833,
Same estimated median house or condo value in Wasilla, AK for 2007:$94474
source: city data

I think the figures speak for themselves, coupled with the fact for our taxes in Michigan which were approximately $3000 a year we had no street lighting on our Street and precious little else, we did however pay for the local cemetry.

From citydata....
Estimated median house or condo value in 2007: $239,057 (it was $140,200 in 2000)
[LEFT]Wasilla: $239,057Alaska: $231,300Read more: https://www.city-data.com/city/Wasilla-Alaska.html#ixzz0TxxnOWuM


The above from citydata...You must have some numbers mixed up.[/LEFT]

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by AQHA

Thanks for the reply, and thanks to those who replied via private message.

WOW! Does that seem high? I know we don't have state income tax but property tax seems incredibly high. Whew! I have a ranch in Montana where I pay $1400 a year total.

Property tax in the valley, and also North Star Borough (around Fairbanks) are very high.

[Nephler]

You're right Marty. Makes here and back there about even. Either way, with Mills of 20+, I think it was 22, I don't remember for sure, our taxes were huge back there. Although, you can buy homes mighty darn cheep now. The housing fall out really hit that area.

[jja100]

Originally Posted by Marty Van Diest

75-80% of the property tax money goes to the schools. The rest goes to the borough for road and fire service areas and for planning on how you can use your property in the future...zoning.

That is why you should pay attention to the borough and school budgets and ask them how they are spending the money. I know a lot of it is wasted, but that happens with any government. The closer the people actually look at the money, the better it will be spent.

Remember, we have no income tax and no sales tax.

Well, a friend made a case to me that we actually do have an income tax but since it is indirect we ignore it. This is the money that comes to the state from the oil royalties. The oil is owned by the people not the government, and if the money were actually distributed to the people and then taxed back to the government we would feel differently about the money that the state is spending. Instead, the state spends the money and distributes a pittance to the people in the form of a pfd.

Also, if you counted the money that the state is spending from the oil royalties as a tax, we would have the highest taxes in the country.

I rather have high "voluntary/indirect" taxes than a property tax. I don't understand why property needs to be taxed.... especially if it is your primary residence. If you can afford to pay it... why not just increase taxation on sales or income or a combination of both. All property taxes are is a means to strip equity from inherited property from those that cannot afford to pay it. All property taxes do is propagate foreclosures and mess with the equity of your neighbour's home.

[Marty Van Diest]

If we could trade a property tax for a sales tax I would be all for it. But I voted against a sales tax in the valley last year because it would not eliminate the property tax.

I am not willing to give the local government two ways to tax us.

[starlite9]

They tried that bait and switch in Fairbanks, was suppose to remove the property tax "After" they got a sales tax passed. The people voted it down knowing full well once they had both, neither would go away.....

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by New_Horizon

The estimated median house or condo value in Harbor Springs, Michigan for 2007: $237833,
Same estimated median house or condo value in Wasilla, AK for 2007:$94474
source: city data

I think the figures speak for themselves, coupled with the fact for our taxes in Michigan which were approximately $3000 a year we had no street lighting on our Street and precious little else, we did however pay for the local cemetry.

I have no street lighting (outside Fairbanks, AK), not paved roads, have a septic system, and water well. Still pay around $3,000 in property tax for a house that has 1,700 Sq. Feet of living space, built in 1980. On top of that, over $200.00 per month for electricity, and around $300.00 per month for heating fuel.

[pittsflyer]

Originally Posted by arctichomesteader

There's more than one reason to avoid Mat-Su....the taxes are crazy there...for me, the population density is the other...why I went with the Unorganized Borough for my property, no taxes, few people...

Part of the problem here though is that you are going to spending more on gas to get to Costco than you would in property taxes. It goes all the way out to Eureka and encompases lake louise.

[pittsflyer]

Originally Posted by AQHA

Are the taxes in Anchorage any less? I don't know where one could go to avoid the taxes while staying on the road system.

Anchorage has alot of amenities though and is not much more than the bourough. People go to the valley because they get a bigger lot and slightly nicer house than they would in Anchorage. But everyone I have met has drasticly underestimated how brutal the commute is into anchorage, drasticly under estimated it. The only people I know that like it are people that can do a significant portion of their job telecommuting, but it has to be significant.