Upstate taxes tops in national study By RICK KARLIN Capitol bureau Published 12:01 a.m., Friday, April 29, 2011 Larger | Smaller Printable Version Email This Georgia (default) Verdana Times New Roman Arial
Font Page 1 of 1 ALBANY -- New York's highest-in-the-nation property tax burden is an ongoing story.
But now the focus is shifting upstate in light of data showing that the nation's 15 highest taxed counties are all north of the New York City suburbs or in the western part in the state, when calculated by taxes as a percentage of home values.
According to the Tax Foundation, a non-partisan Washington D.C.-based research group, Orleans County ranks first in the nation for property taxes, with a $2,610 annual tax bill on a median-priced $87,200 home.
Just behind Orleans are Niagara, Monroe and Allegany counties.
Closer to the Capitol Region, Montgomery County ranks 11th of 1,824 counties surveyed nationally, with a median tax burden of $2,408 for a $96,900 home.
Schenectady County comes in 24th highest with taxes running $3,641 on a median-priced $163,000 home.
Median is the point at which half of the numbers are higher and half are lower. The Tax Foundation used a three year average from 2007 to 2009.
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
I think this group should present taxes for the cities too.
I mean look at that mention about Schenectady, as a county (thanks to Susie Savage jacking taxes up).
Notice the numbers, $3,600 on a house valued at $163,000.
Let's talk about Schenectady has a city The combined tax rate (per thousand), i.e., city prop tax, county prop tax, and school taxe is about $40 per thousand. So with taxes at $40 per $1,000 of assessed value, who can tell us how much tha total annual tax bill is in the city for a house assessed for a much lower amount, assessed for $100,000? Then add to it the taxes that the city calls "fees" roughly $250 per house for sewer, $250 per house for water, $200 for trash. So how much tax would someone pay in th city? DV. can you do the math and provide an answer?
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
I can assure you that my taxes, city, county (known on my tax bill as "State Mandates"), school along with "election fees", garbage fees, water fees and sewer fees are well over $6,000 per year. My house is assessed at $128,000.
Altogether we are taxed at approximately $47 per thousand. They can call these "fees" all they want. Because they are included on our tax bills it becomes a tax. No different than our county taxes being called "state mandates" on the tax bill. Or the election fees that are included.
I can assure you that my taxes, city, county (known on my tax bill as "State Mandates"), school along with "election fees", garbage fees, water fees and sewer fees are well over $6,000 per year. My house is assessed at $128,000.
Altogether we are taxed at approximately $47 per thousand. They can call these "fees" all they want. Because they are included on our tax bills it becomes a tax. No different than our county taxes being called "state mandates" on the tax bill. Or the election fees that are included.
no kidding......it's like the dumba$$ $1.00/can sales at any market.....10 for $10...stupid,,,because when paying $0.99/can goes to 10 for $10 what do ya have? A SLIGHT OF HAND.....government does the same.....
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Pat Z makes an excellent point. They are looking at local property taxes only. Not water, election and trash fees. School taxes are also not included. If all of these Stratton/DEM fees and outrageous school taxes are added Schenectady would be in the top five in the nation. The Gazetto loves to site partial figures to minimize the issue.
This is why you can't give away property in the City. This is why workers will commute an hour from GE just to stay out of this County. This is why all economic development/Metrograft plans keep failing. This why the Parker Inn went belly up. This is why the French bistro is still on the market along with dozens of Downtown business properties.
Everyone but those running the city see that raising taxes/fees on residents while allowing businesses to go tax free will do nothing but drive the city to bankruptcy.
Even those receiving huge tax give aways have their Nike's laced up. What happened to that high end jewelry store in the Proctor's arcade? Death Ray stated that this proved you can sell high end items Downtown-lol. To be replaced by a cupcake place. The Malloozi's be fuming!
I personally know several young couples who were looking to buy a house, looked in Schenectady despite all the problems, looked at the high property taxes, and bought houses elsewhere. That 25% tax increase that BS brags about was the fatal blow to a struggling city. The city has been getting worse by the day since that moment. You just have a bunch of politicians and cronies picking the carcass clean. Downstate politicians were happy to use upstate cities to dump their problem residents and make themselves look good. Well upstate is full, and NYC is getting bad again. Nowhere for people who want to live decently and aren't millionaires to go, except out of the state.
You just have a bunch of politicians and cronies picking the carcass clean.
All DEM politicians. If they have school aged kids-they won't even look in the City. High taxes might be acceptable for quality services. High taxes for no services is another matter. The roads are pathetic. The DEMS build a $20 million DPW and start body work in competition with struggling private businesses. Water mains are collapsing. Decades of not upgrading infrastructure while handing out money to nonprofits has caught up with them.
DV refuses to respond. Much much too embarrassed to admit he is wrong and that the handouts to the millioniares is not doing diddly squat for the city, the handouts to the millionaires is ONLY making taxes in the city way too high for anyone to afford to live in the city, coupled with substantial reduction in vital services.
DV, is it a miracle that taxes are the highest? Oh, now DON'T go saying they are "only" 24th highest. The 24th highest in the WHOLE U.S. is Schenectady COUNT. But the CITY, if the taxes were listed by city, then for sure Schenectady CITY would be way up there. You DID notice that the story said average taxes of $3,600 for a house assessed at $163,000????
Now, DV, what is YOUR opinion of a house assessed for a lowely $100,000 and having a tax bill of over $5,000. Is that a good thing? What kind of miracle is that? Huh?
Tell us WHY it's good that people with total household incomes of $30,000 and less are paying over $5,000 in their taxes alone. Why are peope with low icome paying the property taxes for the millionaires????? Tell us DV, why can't the milloniares pay their own taxes? Why are they exempt? Why are the poor paying for the rich? Is THAT good for a city? Why is it good for a city that the poor go without necessities in order to pay the taxes for the millioniares? Why is that good, dV?????? Can you answer? Or are you too embarrased?
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
All you have to do is drive through any neighborhood to see the absolute implosion. GE Plot, Stockade, Upper Union but even Old Nisky and parts of the town nearest the City. Hey City Council DEMS take a peek across Jay St at the vacant store fronts. In the City there are homes for sale for over 3 years with no offers. Other property has been abandoned. Easier to avoid the taxman than find a buyer?
Slicing up $105,000 into smaller pieces will do nothing. Try slashing spending, returning 90% of City vehicles/phones and eliminating all fees. That will have an impact. Even the millionaires are fleeing mahogany row Downtown. The "renaissance" jewelry store has now closed. Even with the tax giveaways there was no business to keep it limping along.
this whole thing has gone WAY past the "if you build they will come"....there is something alot more insidious at work and it's bigger than Schenectady
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
They haven't built anything and only the nonprofits came. The City is sagging under the weight of too many nonprofits and gutless DEM pols that can't say no.
Logged
Pat Z makes an excellent point. They are looking at local property taxes only. Not water, election and trash fees. School taxes are also not included. If all of these Stratton/DEM fees and outrageous school taxes are added Schenectady would be in the top five in the nation. The Gazetto loves to site partial figures to minimize the issue.
