HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0820.005 2020-2022 P/GOo.ncil Public, Hann
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From: John Fields
Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2022 11:54 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Testimony wrt Real Property Tax Rates for all Classes of Real Property
Rather than focusing on the current tax rates and assessed valuations, my testimony focuses mostly on the fairness of tax rules
and enforcement of those rules, in particular the apparent widespread abuse of the homeowner tax classification and
exemptions. Having compared my property taxes to my 6 closest neighbors, I discovered that we are almost paying more than
the rest of my neighbors combined even though we have similar agriculturally zoned properties. Checking further, most of the
difference could be explained through the cap in assessed values provided through the homeowner tax classification and the
use of the homeowner's exemption. However, I am aware of several instances in which the owners of these properties are not
abiding by the rules for this classification, exemption, or both. Rather than turn-in my neighbors,especially knowing in the past
that the Tax Dept. has never,to the best of knowledge, investigated my previous complaints, I would like to call for more
rigorous verification and enforcement of all agricultural zoned properties with this tax classification or exemption. Perhaps
there are significant numbers of properties in other zones with similar issues. I believe there are significant opportunities to
recover both past and present tax revenue including penalties while making things fairer to those of us who are playing by the
rules. I certainly would prefer the tax dept.takes this action before further increasing the tax rates.
John Fields o C)
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Ref. To: Y l moot
Ref. Date MAY 1 7 2022
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