Thursday, July 02, 2009
California sinking
Dreher asked for comments from Californians on the ridiculous fiscal condition of that state. One commenter named JerryS mentioned the low property taxes.
I hadn't realized just how unbelievably low they are!
I responded in that blog with a comparison, and I want to repeat the basic math here for easy reference.
Jerry said that his property is worth about $1.4 million at current realistic valuation, and his Cal property tax is $1300 per year.
My house here in Spokane is valued at about $60,000 by the county. (It wouldn't sell for that much, but we're talking about official valuation here.) My property tax is $600 per year, which is quite manageable even on my tiny income; doesn't feel excessive or outrageous at all.
So:
My WA house is 1/20 of Jerry's CA house.
My WA tax is 1/2 of Jerry's CA tax.
In proportion, I'm paying 10 times as much property tax as Jerry.
Another Wash commenter had a much higher house value but the very same proportion: Wash tax is 10 times the California tax.
No damn wonder California is going bankrupt.
And still their governor can't get serious. Scheissenesser can't decide what to do, can't bring himself to offend any of the Important People, doesn't understand the purpose of governing. ¶ 2:00 PM
I hadn't realized just how unbelievably low they are!
I responded in that blog with a comparison, and I want to repeat the basic math here for easy reference.
Jerry said that his property is worth about $1.4 million at current realistic valuation, and his Cal property tax is $1300 per year.
My house here in Spokane is valued at about $60,000 by the county. (It wouldn't sell for that much, but we're talking about official valuation here.) My property tax is $600 per year, which is quite manageable even on my tiny income; doesn't feel excessive or outrageous at all.
So:
My WA house is 1/20 of Jerry's CA house.
My WA tax is 1/2 of Jerry's CA tax.
In proportion, I'm paying 10 times as much property tax as Jerry.
Another Wash commenter had a much higher house value but the very same proportion: Wash tax is 10 times the California tax.
No damn wonder California is going bankrupt.
And still their governor can't get serious. Scheissenesser can't decide what to do, can't bring himself to offend any of the Important People, doesn't understand the purpose of governing. ¶ 2:00 PM
