[red-beard]

Our local government property tax rates are pretty much fixed. The assessments are adjusted by the inflation rate every year, which is about how fast property tax has been rising.

I got into the habit of protesting the valuation. It is easy, since they houses around me are larger, and the lots are larger. I simply show the value of the properties, convert to $/sq ft, then multiply my house size by the same value. Add $19K for my pool, and there ya go. They typically don't give me the whole reduction.

Over the years, I got close to the same valuation numbers, except for land. For some reason, if the lot is under a certain size, they value the $/sq ft higher. I have a smaller yard than my next door neighbor, but it is valued higher?!? Yep, stupid rules.

The upshot of our system has been an ever increasing amount of money going to our local government. They should be readjusting the tax rate as well, to match the budget. They are instead, spending the money. Most people do not protest their taxes.

When I lived in Upstate NY, they adjusted both the value of the property and the tax rate, so that they matched the budget, plus whatever amount doesn't get paid each year. It made it hard to predict your tax bill.