Arizona’s taxpaying geese tired of laying those golden eggs
Editorial writer Kathleen Ingley’s “Quick Hit” in this morning’s Arizona Republic is titled: Stop treating ”tax” like a dirty word. A classic tax-and-spender she berates attempts to rein in undisciplined spending.
Like the leftist newspaper that employs her and the president whose out-of-control spending policies they support, Ingley believes the American taxpayer, in general — and the Arizona taxpayer, specifically — are a constant and dependable stream of revenue.
Today she opines that limiting property taxes — demonizing them, she claims, is “destructive.”
Unlike the newspaper, Seeing Red AZ supports Prop 13 Arizona. This week, Chairwoman Lynne Weaver filed documents with the Secretary of State’s Office launching the campaign to qualify the proposal for the 2012 election. The group must submit 256,213 valid voter signatures by July 5, 2012 to qualify. The initiative allows property owners to seize control of their run-away property taxes by imposing a solid constitutional tax limit.
Take time to review the group’s interactive and comprehensive website and read the text of the proposed Constitutional Amendment. Volunteer to help. Unlike many campaigns we are asked to support, this effort is actually in our own best interests.
It’s about time!
California’s Prop. 13 passed with a 2/3 majority in 1978 after two failed attempts. It cut the annual tax levy on ALL properties–residential, commercial and manufacturing–from about 3% of market value to 1%. Guess what? California did not fall into the sea. No public services were cut, and life went on as before. Adjusted for inflation, the total property tax take since 1978 is far higher than it was prior to ’78. What I don’t understand is why voters all across the country have voted down almost every attempt to pass their own Prop. 13′s. Could it be because jackasses and fools are allowed to vote?
Slightly off-topic, but I would like to alert Seeing Red readers in Maricopa County that if they are concerned about property taxes, they really, really need to take a close look at the drunken tax & spending spree that is currently occurring at the Maricopa County Community College District.
Tell us more, Steve.
I’d like to, but I believe SeeingRed frowns on posting actual links (correct me if I’m wrong) – but they don’t mind me saying that there’s been some articles on this on Sonoran Alliance.
Short version, the MCCCD has broad property taxing authority, and just a couple weeks ago voted to raise taxes again, despite a new Goldwater Institute study that shows dramatically (46%) top-heavy administration costs. The board president also gently suggested to the Chancellor that roughly said, “I think you’re doing a great job, but have you thought about the possibility of trying to save money in some areas?”, whereupon the Chancellor responded with an angry, arrogant 7-page lecture that basically said, “I can spend whatever I want.”
An LD22 member who attended the property tax increase meeting noted that nearly every member of the public who showed up to speak spoke against the tax increase, and the board just smiled and nodded before voting to raise all of our taxes….again.
Thanks. Appreciate you taking the time to respond.
This time Prop 13 Arizona is using paid circulators to ensure they get across the finish line. That costs money. We need to contribute to this very worthy cause to allow us future significant savings.
This is an excellent initiative and should pass readily, but FIRST IT MUST GET ON THE BALLOT. The number of required signatures is daunting, but not impossible. ALL conservatives need to get behind this, because we’re the ones who understand the significance. EVERYONE will benefit. The issue is non-partisan,
This has been effective in California, where property taxes were through the roof — if you could afford to keep one over your head. Supporting illegals to the hilt didn’t help. I will certainly support this effort here in AZ.
Only two groups suffered after Prop 13 passed in CA… Public safety and education. Maybe we need to talk a bit more about what happens after this “grand” idea. Third time it’s filed and couldn’t get over the 50k signature mark the first two times. That speaks volumes.
We never released signature counts so you simply made up “50k signature mark” and posted it as fact. Your comment is an outright lie.
Neither public safety nor education “suffered” under Prop 13. California has the 2nd highest paid teachers in the nation. Public safety gets everything it wants thanks to government being controlled by public employee unions. Public safety unions are at the head of the destructive pack.
And then check out the California $100,000 Club with almost 10,000 govt retirees receiving cash pension payments in excess of $100,000 per year plus medical benefits.
Limiting taxation with a solid constitutional amendment is exactly what is needed.
Public safety and education did NOT suffer after California’s Prop 13 passed. If you want to argue for the govt bureaucracy and against the taxpayers, do so with facts, not untruths.
Steve Calabrese:
The links we object to are those that direct our readers to the commenters personal websites, some of which, for a variety of reasons, have content we do not condone. See our policy on Seeing Red AZ’s “About” page. We make exceptions for conservative candidates, elected officials and issue related sites with which we agree. This site is not a democracy. We have ultimate authority over these decisions.
Thanks for filling in the blanks regarding the taxing authority of the Maricopa County Community College District.for MacBeth and other readers.
“….this effort is actually in our own best interests.”
BS.
The Prop gives massive tax breaks to everyone who bough a home prior to 2003, but will SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE PROPERTY TAXES ON EVERYONE WHO BOUGHT LATER.
An AP reporter wrote a misleading article on how Prop 13 Arizona works and then many others ran the same piece.
Prop 13 Arizona does not raise taxes on anyone.
Prop 13 Arizona caps the residential tax rate at 0.5% and all other real property at 1.0%. It applies to ad valorem and non-ad valorem taxes. It is a solid tax cap, no exceptions.
It limits valuation increase to no more than 2% per year.
It transitions to an Acquisition Value System which uses purchase price as the basis for taxation. If your market value has fallen below your purchase price, you can file a Decline-In-Value appeal with your county assessor. Your reduced value would rise as the market rises but could not exceed your purchase price plus any 2% annual inflation adjustments that occurred. This is the same as CA Prop 8 from 1978.
Those who purchased their property prior to January 1, 2004 will use Assessor’s 2003 Full Cash Value as the basis for taxation until the property is sold and the new owner will use the new purchase price. This is how California transitioned to an Acquisition Value System. Since people move on average every 7 years, most property owners will use purchase price for tax purposes when Prop 13 Arizona goes into effect.
The residential rate applies to all residential property including non-owner occupied properties and apartment buildings. This will bring buyers into our real estate market and provide much needed rental properties for families unable to buy a home.
As an easy benchmark, the residential tax is $500 per $100,000 valuation. A home purchased for $200,000 would have a first year tax bill of $1,000.
Its an easy formula but the reporter still got it wrong.