I hate Los Angeles.

[mikester]

So, I have a question about my property tax bill.

I have called in the past and been able to speak to knowledgeable folks about inaccuracies in the bill but I haven't had to in a while so with question I set aside some time today to call them.

There is only one number on my bill and a website, I call the number and it is automated but states at the end of the options - if you stay on the line you will reach a person. So - I stay on the line and the message just keeps repeating and repeating. I don't even want to say how long I wasted waiting...it was infuriating to say the least however.

At that point it appeared my only option was to either find some back door number or actually GO down there to downtown LA and get in line. Unacceptable especially for a town with horrible traffic problems and a worse public transit infrastructure. They should be doing all they can to ensure folks can get someone on the phone...

I did a few web searches to find a number and actually found the number of the person holding the Tax collector office. I am at the point in my day where I don't have time to do it now but I will probably call him tomorrow and just waste some of his time.

I am sure I know the damn answer to my f'ing question but I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask...I was wrong. I hate LA.

[varmint]

you cannot imagine the pain in the ass.


my neighborhood just went to permit only parking. any car without a sticker will be towed after 10pm. now, you'd think i could just get a sticker and give it to friends when they come over. but the city doesn't like that. they want me to get special "guest" permits that are only good for one night. and expire after thirty days.

the city government is conspiring to keep me from getting laid.

[mikester]

Originally Posted by varmint

you cannot imagine the pain in the ass.


my neighborhood just went to permit only parking. any car without a sticker will be towed after 10pm. now, you'd think i could just get a sticker and give it to friends when they come over. but the city doesn't like that. they want me to get special "guest" permits that are only good for one night. and expire after thirty days.

the city government is conspiring to keep me from getting laid.

Santa Monica has similar policies - I used to live there and you had to have permits to park on the street near your resident. They gave you hangers - you got two and could put them in any car.

Worked mostly but if the Officer couldn't see the permit for any reason (like they weren't looking or something) you still ended up with a ticket.

[BeyGon]

Tell us how it works with them, my proberty taxes went up but of course the property values have gone down. I don't understand that one and have wanted to call someone and get their response I won't like.

[mikester]

The likely answer for you depends on when you bought. If you bought at say $800k 1 year ago then that is what your current assesment is based on. So then this year it would increase 1%.

If the value of your home has decreased lower than $800k though you have to file an appeal to get the assessment lower - it isn't automatic. I don't recommend calling their automated number (which apparently is all there is).

Now say you bought 4 or 5 years ago at $500k and after purchase your house appreciated to $900k in value. Your property taxes only went up 1% per year which is good but say now your value is still lower than the assessment the tax collector has - well again your at the appeal stage I think.

I haven't been through the processes so I don't know how hard they are but I'm scared of them. One thing I'm not sure about is if you do the appeal and it still comes out higher - do they now make the new value your assessed value? I'm sure they can't get away with that since they are limited to the 1% (from prop 13 I believe).

Taxes are bad.

[tabs]

Ohhhh I bin through the Appeals Board before in LA County...Sat there for 3 or 4 hours while the case ahead of me was being adjucated...Some large apartment owner didn't like his assessment and was trying every trick in the book to get it lowered. Could see from the get go it wasn't gona work...By the time they got to me they wanted to go home so the Assessor and Board found for me...yet it still took 2 years to get my money back along with an increased tax bill for a house I no longer even owned.

At least in San Bernardino County you can actually talk to the guy who assesses your home...

[Rick V]

Originally Posted by varmint

the city government is conspiring to keep me from getting laid.

That is the wifes job

[legion]

The only way to fix it is to brush it all away.