A New York barn

JohnMiller3 · Dec 20, 2001

Very inconsistent... tax assessments in New York...

One of my best buddies, built his home about 2 years ago... I believe about 5200 sq.ft.... and they told him they were doing him a favor by "under assessing" him... his taxes are over $9K annually... about 20 miles from me, rural area... /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

"You are what you eat, drink, think, say and do..."

ronjhall · Dec 20, 2001

Rich
JM3 will not have to move to get lower taxes. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Now that the whole Internet knows you are not paying enough taxes. It won't be long before some politicians in Albany will pass a law to correct this inconsistency. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

DaveM · Dec 20, 2001

OK, I got into this thread because I think NY taxes are ridiculously high. It's no wonder to me that NY was pretty much left behind during the 90's economic boom. Businesses were packing up and moving south in droves largely due to high taxes.

I also resent that that my share of school taxes is exactly the same as a family with X # kids when I never had, have or will have any children taking advantage of the school system/w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif.

Sorry for the vent... but I feel a little better now/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif.

Dave

Knight9 · Dec 20, 2001

I also resent that that my share of school taxes is exactly the same as a family with X # kids when I never had, have or will have any children taking advantage of the school system

Certainly a popular view I know. Goes along with the view that Seniors shouldn't have to pay school tax anymore. From my perspective, and many others, I prefer to see it as the fact that all of society benefits from the education of the kids. Seems like since we all benefit from it, probably not a bad thing to contribute to it. And trust me, your buddy is paying a lot more for his kids going to school!!! The same taxes sure, but ask him how many extra school fees, field trip fees, supply fees etc he pays.

Kevin

DocHeb · Dec 20, 2001

Dave,

Taxes fit into the common-good category, much in the same way I:

Pay for health insurance - but I'm not currently ill
Pay for auto insurance - but haven't had any claims
Pay for the military - even though my hometown is not invaded
Pay for Social Security - but I'm under under 65
Pay for new road building - but I never take that route
Pay for the EPA to protect the environment - but the industry is NIMBY
Pay for schools to make my community attractive and maintain my property values - but I don't have any kids

Taxes are like insurance, they spread risk across a large population, accomplishing things that could not be done by smaller groups.

I'm just glad the government isn't too efficient. From the amount of taxes I pay, they could hire a personal civil servant to tail me 24 hours a day making sure I'm doing everything right!

Note - What follows is the obligatory thread-relevant statement: Sorry, but I don't have any pretty barn pictures yet - just bought the camera yesterday.

DaveM · Dec 20, 2001

Hi Kevin,

It's always good to hear from you!

I believe there's much merit in the idea that society benefits from a good education and I don't have a problem with my tax money supporting it. But I feel the current situation is not equitable at all concerning senior citizens and tax payers w/o children. They should not pay the same % as people with kids, IMO. Clearly, people with children gain a far greater direct benefit than people w/o kids. Also, while people with children certainly have more expenses than people w/o, lets not forget that having children is a conscious decision made by those people... or at least I hope so.

Then there's renters, probably 6 million in the NYC metro area alone, that pay no property or school taxes. Just doesn't seem fair to me /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif.

BTW, politically I'm a left leaning moderate... really /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif.

Dave

EldoNixon · Dec 20, 2001

Well I agree upstate NY s beautiful. I just returned after 5 years in the Big Easy (as in New Orleans). Taxes are another thing though. I live in Saratoga county across the river from Washington county and my taxes are $6500.00. Granted I do have a bed and breakfast (aprox. 4,500 sq. feet) plus 2 bedroom carriage house and barn on 4 acres, but still way too much. Luckily we're surrounded by thousands of acres of farm land. The area is actually called Bacon Hill. I haven't got my web site up, but I'd love to house some TBN'rs. Help me pay these taxes.

DaveM · Dec 20, 2001

Yeah, this thread has taken a major turn from where it started and I'm somewhat embarrassed that I've helped move it that way. I'm really not confrontational or particulary political. But NY taxes are so much higher than most places in this country and I'm not seeing or feeling that we (New Yorkers) are getting our money's worth. And I guess the school taxes just send me over the edge...

All that said, I still really like living here. It's so beautiful and peaceful. And I hope to build a 2-3 car garage someday and I'll post photos here too!

Dave

Knight9 · Dec 20, 2001

Hi Dave,

I certainly don't want to sidetrack onto a "taxes" discussion either /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif. Suffice it to say that I'm sure we all agree on one thing....regardless of where we live (Canada, US etc) we all believe we are overtaxed and most of us probably disagree with where much of our tax dollars are spent /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif!!!

I'll look forward to seeing your photos down the road. I'm hoping to get a new computer and digital camera through my company in the new year. I'll be sure to post!!!

Kevin

Anonymous Poster · Dec 20, 2001

...The area is actually called Bacon Hill...

Richie and I just went to an auction in Bacon Hill about a month ago... another one is coming up in the spring...

Hey, I won't need the bed, but I'll consider the breakfast.../w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

RichZ · Dec 20, 2001

Part of the reason your taxes are higher is that Saratoga Springs is a city, with one more layer of taxes. You get a lot of services. I have a buddy that lives in Saratoga Springs. Unfortunately those services raise your taxes!
But as has been said earlier, this thread has taken a major detour, from the way I started it!!!

Anyone else have any nice rural pictures of New York to show our friends from out of state that New York City isn't representative of our beautiful state?

Rich
"What a long strange trip it's been."

Anonymous Poster · Dec 20, 2001

...this thread has taken a major turn from where it started ...

No problem Dave... everything was fine until Richie started bragging and said "my taxes are lower than yours....Na, na, na, nah!..." /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif

EldoNixon · Dec 20, 2001

I always find that breakfast tastes better after getting a few projects out of the way first...

DaveM · Dec 20, 2001

Yeah, it's all Rich's fault /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif!

Dave

DaveM · Dec 20, 2001

Hi Again Rich,

Here's one I took a couple months ago. Our house is bearmed or "in ground" so all the windows are on the south facing side. This is the view we see out of any window.

Take Care- Dave

Edited by DaveM on 12/20/01 03:29 PM (server time).

ronjhall · Dec 20, 2001

JM3
Next time Rich may keep to the topic. /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif/w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

JJT · Dec 20, 2001

John, I've got some waterfront property for sale....

I'm sure Kmart won't be paying taxes on the distribution center for several years. Most of the incentive packages offered to attract these things phase in the taxes over 7 yrs, yr1 -0-, yr 2 10%, etc. I won't hold my breath waiting for a tax break.

markcg2000 · Dec 20, 2001

It matters a lot what town you're in. I'm one over from Von and my taxes are ~$2,000 (property and school) for 25 acres... but we have a well and septic system

mark

markcg2000 · Dec 20, 2001

... and here's the house
from the driveway
from the back
from the road

mark

RichZ · Dec 21, 2001

"Richie started bragging"

Oh yeah??? I did not!!!! Nyaa, nyaa, nyaa!!

Mike asked me what my taxes were, and I told him. I was just trying to be helpful. It was John who started complaining about his high taxes in very urban Rensselaer County!!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Truth be told, John is really a city guy, that's why he pays high taxes!!/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif
I'm just a poor country boy from Long Island, and now I get picked on!!/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

Rich
"What a long strange trip it's been."