St Joseph County property tax bills were recently mailed and have increased in many cases. Local media reports:
- The county did a study which showed most property taxes increased 15 percent.
- There have been problems with inaccurate assessments, especially for businesses in Clay Township.
- There are systemic problems that cause some tax bills to be calculated without exemptions, even when the property qualifies for them.
- There is a move, spearheaded by landlords, to revise the tax code or eliminate property taxes altogether.
Do you have anthing to correct from these reports, or to add to the property tax discussion? The comments are below.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Tracy 11.18.07 at 12:51 pm
What perplexes me is the backwards way government budgets and hence taxes are determined. I’m fairly certain I’d be laughed at and dismissed if I went to my employer and said “hey, I estimated what I want to spend money on this year and I’ll need you to pay me x amount so I can pay for everything I want.” Instead my employer gives me money and I make my budget AFTER that - not the other way around. I don’t understand why government can’t work in a similar way.
tom barney 12.18.07 at 10:17 pm
It sort of reminds me of new orleans, corrupt. Because Notre Dame is the Force in the city, they’re probably behind it and buying most of the property when owners abandon. Later they will capitalize when the long overdue reforms arrive. Sound unlikely? That’s how real money is made.