Glorious Johnson: Tell me more

[uptowngirl]

Who is paying less? My taxes significantly increased, I had extra "fees" added to my bill, my property value dropped by 100K, oh and let's not forget the huge JEA bills... btw- it is a way to make up budget shortfalls IF there are enough houses still paying...

[tufsu1]

My property taxes went down by over $200 last year...and even with the new stormwater fee (which pay for things we ignored for too long here in Jax), I still paid less.

JEA is the utility provider....if their costs go up, they charge more....just like any other bsuiness...not exactly the same thing as a tax increase.

[stjr]

Uptown, those "extra fees" were merely to replace some of the revenues lost from all those overdone tax cuts, mostly passed in good times.

I agree with Tufsu here.  If we had political LEADERSHIP, they would explain to the taxpayers that rather than cut taxes when there are surpluses, government should bank the surpluses for the inevitable rainy day when a recession is sure to come again.  Just as we should do in our own businesses and personal lives.  If this happened, taxes would generally neither rise nor fall disproportionate to OVERALL community incomes (individual experiences may vary).

What really happens is when there are surpluses, politicians want credit for putting through tax cuts.  And, when times are bad, they worry about people like you, and don't want to undo the tax cuts which will be interpreted as "tax increases".  This is not sustainable and government will end up resorting to other means to balance their budgets.  Hence, your user fees.

Bottom line, government in this country is behaving just like the people they represent, failing to adequately save.  

P.S.  Do you hear many people say lets cut police, education, parks, transportation projects, etc. during a recession because government revenues are down?  I don't.

P.S.S. It was unrealistic for people to over leverage themselves with less than 20 to 30% down on their houses, variable interest rates they didn't understand, and no-questions-asked underwriting.  Borrowers have a responsibility to themselves to understand the consequences of their actions and to leave a cushion for possible negative events occurring.  If the real possibility of interest rates rising from 2% to 4% occurs, that is a near doubling of house payments.  That should have been planned for by borrowers knowing that their incomes would most unlikely double overnight as well.  As to being underwater on a home loan, this is only a problem if you are trying to sell it or borrow more against it.  I don't think it's government's job to subsidize people who can't reasonably manage their own personal finances when they have not been struck by an "act of God" or subjected to some other highly difficult to anticipate negative lifetime event.  After all, we do want to keep those taxes low.  

[tufsu1]

well said stjr!

[uptowngirl]

I actually agree with your point STJR, all i am saying is this is an added impact to these homeowners at an already bad time. When foreclosures go up, preperty tax revenue goes down.

[Dog Walker]

Asking a politician to put aside a surplus fund for harder times is like asking an alcoholic to keep a fully stocked bar in their house.

[urbanlibertarian]

^^Nice!

[CS Foltz]

Well, it seems to me that Johnny wanted his tax increase and he got it! You can talk and pontificate all you want gentlemen but there is just one plain truth............government has not curbed its spending, both on the Federal level or the City level one iota period! Tax increases should be tied to a reduction, not an increase, in whatever government is spending for whatever. Circumventing the voters with Fee's is a slap in the face to the voters who put them into office period! My property value's are down 27% and yet my mortgage is still based on the artificial figures they were bought at.........note is not less just the value! All government should cut waste when and where necessary, not get bigger or more bloated.............should I point out JTA and their fiasco?

[buckethead]

Perhaps, in light of the topic, some could offer insight on what Glorious Johnson might have done differently?

[Springfielder]

Had city council voted to opt out, the millage rate would've stayed the same, and there would've been no need for those new taxes....aka, fees.