By Ruthie

November 10, 2009 9:49 AM | Link to this

Listen, I have paid more than my fair share of taxes during my life time and us elderly are getting hammered in the marketplace. As a group we need to be exempt from any taxes. We have done our part now leave us alone!

By OverTaxed

November 10, 2009 5:53 AM | Link to this

“Property appraiser’s office should include short sales and foreclosures in their evaluation of value.”

Of COURSE they should. Do the property appraiser really think that the bank is in the business of losing money? That the bank doesn’t want to get the best possible price for a home that it owns? Apparently Gary doesn’t know many bankers; of COURSE they are going to sell the house for the best price they can get, and of course that sets the market value.

Banks aren’t in the charity business; why on earth does Gary think that they are in the business of providing homes for “under market” rates? It’s laughable; or at least it would be, if it wasn’t so sad.

By Sam

November 9, 2009 4:40 PM | Link to this

Property appraiser’s office should include short sales and foreclosures in their evaluation of value.

By Truth

November 9, 2009 1:58 PM | Link to this

It is not Nickolitis who is at fault here. He has nothing to do with what you pay. It is the commissioners who decide the millage rate. They give the formula to Nikolitis and his office has to apply the formula. Please educate yourself so you know who to kick out of office.

By OverTaxed

November 9, 2009 11:23 AM | Link to this

Ruthie,

I really, sincerely hope that you are kidding. If your property taxes are 40K/yr, that means you live in a home assessed at 2-2.5M dollars? And you don’t want to pay taxes anymore? If you “need help now” I’d suggest selling your massive house. And, I’m almost afraid to ask, but I assume you have the Save Our Homes exemption, and you’ve been here for 10+ years, so that 40K tax burden is actually FAR too LOW for what a new buyer would be paying on your home.

There’s no exemption from taxes for “being old”. Your taxes are already likely under market (what a new buyer would have to pay), just be glad you’re not a young family trying to make it in this environment.

By Ruthie

November 9, 2009 10:11 AM | Link to this

I think it is a crying shame that they tax the elderly at all. We have paid our dues over the years and need help now! I can’t believe how my property taxes have doubled to almost $40,000 in the last 10 years. Antone over 65 should not have to pay any taxes - that is what I think.

By Concerned taxpayer

November 9, 2009 9:20 AM | Link to this

People know what their property is truly worth which is why 97% of them do not file a petition. They realize that it costs money to live in a society that offers all of the things that are itemized on the assessment notices. It sounds to me like Shelia Anderson is trying to make a buck off of the appeal process which is paid for by everybody else.

By Taxed To Death

November 9, 2009 7:31 AM | Link to this

Nikolits is an arrogant a$$. His office sure wasn’t shy about jacking up property tax appraisals during the boom. Now the appraiser’s office is using contrived, propped-up values that are totally disconnected from the reality of depressed values in a real estate market that has gone bust. The appeals tsunami is no surprise.

By AD

November 9, 2009 6:50 AM | Link to this

Just curious - but what happens to the $ 270,000 generated from the charges to “appeal your tax”. Is this the commissioners slush fund for pet projects, or do you think they do something constructive with the money. I would put “my money” on the slush fund knowing our “moral and descent” elected officials.

By Betty Bowles

November 9, 2009 6:16 AM | Link to this

I have lived in moblie home 30 something years. we lost the moblie home from frances and jean, and the taxes have doublle