Loss cause!! (Dayton, Kettering, Huber Heights: living in, groceries, shop)

[SWOH]

Originally Posted by stdatwmu

Last time I did the math, taxes on our house have increased about 42% in under 6 years.

That's cause for revolt. How is that even possible? I'd be making some politicians look as bad as possible as quickly as possible if I were you....

Because an increase like that is disgusting.

[RDriesenUD]

Originally Posted by stdatwmu

Last time I did the math, taxes on our house have increased about 42% in under 6 years.

What was the amount you were paying before and the amount you are paying now if you don't mind me asking?

[hensleya1]

Originally Posted by OHKID

That's cause for revolt. How is that even possible? I'd be making some politicians look as bad as possible as quickly as possible if I were you....

Because an increase like that is disgusting.

Such is the cost of voting "yes" on levies.

Despite what people may think, I don't sit athwart history yelling "Stop" for nothing. I'm telling people to vote no on taxes because they're already too high. Yes, government services can be a good thing, but not when they cause property taxes to go up by 5-6% annually, without any end in sight, and the paychecks haven't kept up.

I can only surmise that many people's position on tax levies would change the minute they become property owners.

Remember that almost every school district comes back to the voters at least once a year, asking for more money. It's never a renewal anymore - it's always a "renewal and increase" or "additional" money. In many areas you can now expect to pay 3% of the value of your house on property tax... annually. It's why the state started creating homestead exemptions for seniors on limited income, because it's a crime for someone to be taxed out of their own home... that they likely own and have the title to, free and clear.

[RDriesenUD]

No message

[SWOH]

Originally Posted by hensleya1

Such is the cost of voting "yes" on levies.

Despite what people may think, I don't sit athwart history yelling "Stop" for nothing. I'm telling people to vote no on taxes because they're already too high. Yes, government services can be a good thing, but not when they cause property taxes to go up by 5-6% annually, without any end in sight, and the paychecks haven't kept up.

I can only surmise that many people's position on tax levies would change the minute they become property owners.

Remember that almost every school district comes back to the voters at least once a year, asking for more money. It's never a renewal anymore - it's always a "renewal and increase" or "additional" money. In many areas you can now expect to pay 3% of the value of your house on property tax... annually. It's why the state started creating homestead exemptions for seniors on limited income, because it's a crime for someone to be taxed out of their own home... that they likely own and have the title to, free and clear.

Agreed it is important to watch what the levies really pay for. And also why income tax is superior to property tax, but I digress.

That being said, how can your taxes increase 42% over a decade with virtually no inflation? How many levies is that?

[hensleya1]

Originally Posted by OHKID

Agreed it is important to watch what the levies really pay for. And also why income tax is superior to property tax, but I digress.

That being said, how can your taxes increase 42% over a decade with virtually no inflation? How many levies is that?

Easy-- a quick scan of the county auditor's website would show you the millage rates on property by school district and city. The typical effective residential millage rate varies widely - sometimes in the 50's, sometimes over 120 (in Oakwood). Ohio's property taxes are deliberately confusing.

Mills are thousands of a percent of the property's value.

But "taxable value" is only 35% of the assessed value of the house. Meaning, of a $100,000 house only $35,000 of it is taxable.

So 100 mills of $35,000 taxable value is $3,500 a year, or 100 thousandth's of the property's taxable value.

But then you have to factor in various rollbacks (the State would kick in 12.5% of a property tax levy for the longest time), tax breaks, exemptions, etc, which vary immensely by district.

100 raw mills might only be 70 effective mills on residential property. And there's a different rate on commercial and industrial properties.

And that doesn't include the homestead exemption, which IIRC for seniors on limited income exempts the first $25,000 of a property's taxable value.

***

Anyhoo, if the property is taxed at 80 mills, and Issue 11 passes, an 8.21 mill hike, then the new tax rate is 88.21 mills - or an 10.2% increase in one year.

It doesn't take much for the school district to come back and ask for another 5-8 mills the following May. Since "it's for the children" and "vital services will be gutted if it doesn't pass", it has a decent chance of passing. Guess what, the tax rate just went up another 6-10% the next year too. So in a six month period, property taxed at 80 mills is now property taxed at 95 mills. Which means, on a $100,000 house, your tax is now close to $3,000 a year (compared to ~$2,300 the year prior). Just for owning the property.

And that, folks, is why I can't afford to own property in Montgomery County.

[rrtechno]

Originally Posted by hensleya1

Anyhoo, if the property is taxed at 80 mills, and Issue 11 passes, an 8.21 mill hike, then the new tax rate is 88.21 mills - or an 10.2% increase in one year.

You might want to really check out the information about Issue 11. Using your own statement with the correct information inserted:

"Anyhoo, if the property is taxed at 80 mills, and Issue 11 passes, a 1 mill hike, then the new tax rate is 81 mills - or a 1.0125% increase in one year."

True, Issue 11 is an 8.21 mill levy. However, 7.21 mills of it have been collected since at least 2007.

http://www.mcohio.org/government/tre...able_2014_.pdf

FAQS | Human Services Levy Campaign

[stdatwmu]

Originally Posted by OHKID

That's cause for revolt. How is that even possible? I'd be making some politicians look as bad as possible as quickly as possible if I were you....

Because an increase like that is disgusting.

Originally Posted by RDriesenUD

What was the amount you were paying before and the amount you are paying now if you don't mind me asking?

Originally Posted by OHKID

Agreed it is important to watch what the levies really pay for. And also why income tax is superior to property tax, but I digress.

That being said, how can your taxes increase 42% over a decade with virtually no inflation? How many levies is that?

This doesn't factor in the 10% reduction or anything, but here you go...

2007 - $2,875
2008 - $3,410
2009 - $3,480
2010 - $3,880
2011 - $4,230
2012 - $4,100
2013 - $4,300

The numbers we saw when we bought the house would've been the 2007 data (since those are paid in 2008) so that was my basis for the 42% increase between then and 2012 (paid last year, when I made that calculation). If you compare to the 2013 taxes, it's actually a 50% increase! To be fair, with this year's (lower) reappraisal, I expect our taxes to drop a bit going forward.

Seriously, everyone should see the breakdown before any election available at the county auditor's website. It's a great resource - they have a specific New Levies page that breaks down the cost of everything on the ballot.

Montgomery County Auditor | Property Search

[SWOH]

$600/yr increase in 2007, $400/yr increase in 2010, and another $400/yr increase in 2011..... wow. That's ridiculous.


But thanks for posting the link! I'll definitely be checking that out when moving back to the area haha.

[RDriesenUD]

Thank you for post that.