Friday, December 23, 2005
The Shakedown, Part II
Property tax is calculated on the basis of 2 components whose values generally move in opposite directions: land and structure. This is because the value of your house by definition depreciates every year, while the dirt, shrubs, ant hills and squirrel droppings that comprise your land seem to rise inexorably in worth.
(On this basis, given that my house was built in 1929 and a theoretical annual depreciation rate of 5%, it should be valued at about, oh, -$175,000; come to think of it, they should be paying ME to live here! Ha!)
So here's how the game works. At the appointed hour, the assessor (let's call him Ass) knock on your door, briefly casts his appraising eye over your digs, then initiates the following exchange:
Ass: What was your tax bill last year?
Me: About eight grand. Think it'll go up much?
Ass: If by "much" you mean 50-70%, then no, just a smidgin.
Me: Now I understand why they call you the Ass.
Ass: Did I say 50-70%? I meant 80-90...
-LSD
(On this basis, given that my house was built in 1929 and a theoretical annual depreciation rate of 5%, it should be valued at about, oh, -$175,000; come to think of it, they should be paying ME to live here! Ha!)
So here's how the game works. At the appointed hour, the assessor (let's call him Ass) knock on your door, briefly casts his appraising eye over your digs, then initiates the following exchange:
Ass: What was your tax bill last year?
Me: About eight grand. Think it'll go up much?
Ass: If by "much" you mean 50-70%, then no, just a smidgin.
Me: Now I understand why they call you the Ass.
Ass: Did I say 50-70%? I meant 80-90...
-LSD
# posted by goldstar @ 9:33 AM 
