$50/year more for Vehicle Registrations? (Muleshoe, Plains: how much, home, property tax)

[Bo]

Higher Vehicle Registration Fees Seen

State Transportation Commissioner Ted Houghton discusses below his idea to raise the annual fee for registering your car or pickup. This plan is meant to raise revenue for the state without a tax increase.

"That means when you go to re-register your vehicle on an annual basis, it may cost you a little bit more," Houghton said, floating the possibility of a steep increase in the registration fee. "It could be ten dollars, fifteen dollars, twenty dollars or fifty dollars

[bluescreen73]

Originally Posted by Bo

Higher Vehicle Registration Fees Seen

State Transportation Commissioner Ted Houghton discusses below his idea to raise the annual fee for registering your car or pickup. This plan is meant to raise revenue for the state without a tax increase.

Move along, nothing new to see here. The last time the state had a budget crunch the Republicans did the same damn thing. Left taxes alone and raised fees on everything (and then publicly patted themselves on the back for not raising those evil taxes).

Unfortunately there are a lot of ignorant, Pavlovian-conditioned voters who only bark and drool when they hear the phrase "tax increase," and not "fee increase," so the GOP's underhanded, Machiavellian behavior is actually applauded. Nothing like gullibly believing the crap sandwich you're eating is actually a Reuben, eh? Ignorance truly is bliss.

[Bo]

Originally Posted by bluescreen73

Move along, nothing new to see here. The last time the state had a budget crunch the Republicans did the same damn thing. Left taxes alone and raised fees on everything (and then publicly patted themselves on the back for not raising those evil taxes).

Unfortunately there are a lot of ignorant, Pavlovian-conditioned voters who only bark and drool when they hear the phrase "tax increase," and not "fee increase,"

Other states do pay more for license plates. I have a friend who got a horrible case of sticker shock after moving to Indiana and being told that his license plates there would cost $300/year.

I just figured that folks in this forum might have an opinion on the notion of paying more than $100/year for a sticker.

OTOH, there is a $26 billion budget shortfall, so this would be an easy source of revenue that every vehicle owner would contribute to.

[High_Plains_Retired]

Any Texan who thinks they are paying too much to register a vehicle, try moving to Bailey County Texas (Muleshoe) where a newer truck or car can cost you several hundred dollars annually in registration fees and a stiff county property tax on your vehicle. Recall that it was Muleshoe who took their mascot (Old Pete the plastic mule) to the inauguration of GWB.

Regarding taxes and fees in Texas, Republicans or Democrats, it makes zero difference.

[verybadgnome]

A higher reg. fee will somewhat backfire as people will just not register when coming here from out of state or not re-register an already existing vehicle.

Better to raise the gas tax, no way to avoid this, to pay for roads. It hasn't been raised in almost 20 years and inflation has eaten away at is to where it is worth less than half its value. Also since the amount of gas tax is relative to how much you drive it is a fairer thing to raise.

[Philip T]

Originally Posted by verybadgnome

A higher reg. fee will somewhat backfire as people will just not register when coming here from out of state or not re-register an already existing vehicle.

Better to raise the gas tax, no way to avoid this, to pay for roads. It hasn't been raised in almost 20 years and inflation has eaten away at is to where it is worth less than half its value. Also since the amount of gas tax is relative to how much you drive it is a fairer thing to raise.

But THAT would be a Tax Increase.

Remember the Name Games, and what is Really Important.

(Just in case you have forgotten)

Playing stupid Name Games is what is Really Important. m'kay?

Wait until they figure out that Electric Cars do not pay ANY gas/fuel tax.

[orbius]

Originally Posted by High_Plains_Retired

Any Texan who thinks they are paying too much to register a vehicle, try moving to Bailey County Texas (Muleshoe) where a newer truck or car can cost you several hundred dollars annually in registration fees and a stiff county property tax on your vehicle. Recall that it was Muleshoe who took their mascot (Old Pete the plastic mule) to the inauguration of GWB.

Regarding taxes and fees in Texas, Republicans or Democrats, it makes zero difference.

That simply is not true. Increasing fees to meet budget requirements is a tax on average Texans many of whom simply cannot afford it. But by goodness it doesnt effect the rich so Republican party in Texas can all breath a sigh of relief. The sacred cows are left untouched by nasty, nasty, tax increases now pay your extra tax *cough* fee you bum.

[Willsson]

The state should tax home owners with water front properties for the privilege of having property that fronts the water. Other wise they can move and/or make access to that water front unimpeded public access. And no more state or federal assistance for annual flooding.

[High_Plains_Retired]

Originally Posted by orbius

That simply is not true. Increasing fees to meet budget requirements is a tax on average Texans many of whom simply cannot afford it. But by goodness it doesnt effect the rich so Republican party in Texas can all breath a sigh of relief. The sacred cows are left untouched by nasty, nasty, tax increases now pay your extra tax *cough* fee you bum.

I'm not really sure what you are calling untrue. I can tell you that it is VERY true that a $35,000 Ford truck will cost you several hundred dollars each year to register in Bailey County, Texas. I can also tell you a fee such as a property tax on newer vehicles affects everyone who drives a newer vehicle and not just "rich" Texans.

BTW, the budget requirements Muleshoe seeks right now to resolve is the building of a 1.5 million dollar swimming pool in the middle of the worse recession the world has ever seen. This is where I come to the conclusion that there is no difference in Texas Repubs and Dems when it comes to spending.

[orbius]

The difference of course is that counties have no authority to tax outside of what the State mandates. The State has all options on the table and is choosing to pass on the pain to average Texans in the form of extra taxes *cough* fees.