Property Tax Increases

Much in the media in the state now is very critical of property tax increases which many perceive as being out of control. It is very important that one looks at the real numbers instead of select numbers. With that being said even verifying my numbers that I may quote here should be examined individually.

I first of all do not want to minimize the tax increases that Sun Valley Lake has had. They are without a doubt significant. Even there, one must ask the question is the percent of taxes verses the real value of the property high. In the last 10 years very few properties at Sun Valley have sold at less than assessed value. That can not be said in the rest of the county.

I want to display residential properties's tax bill of selected properties. The first in Mount Ayr, only the house portion of the tax bill on a farm house, and a house tax bill in a small town. All happen to be in Mount Ayr School District

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Mt Ayr Year Net Tax Homestead Credit From State Gross Tax to local Govt 2004 1398 149 1548 2003 1386 152 1538 2002 1229 166 1498 2001 1348 178 1526 2000 1180 180 1360 1999 1236 194 1430 1998 1232 187 1419 1997 1274 200 1474 Farm house, no land Year Net Tax Homestead Credit From State Gross Tax to local Govt 2004 577 113 689 2003 574 116 690 2002 538 124 662 2001 544 134 678 2000 546 147 693 1999 506 140 646 1998 500 134 634 1997 521 144 665 Small town house only Year Net Tax Homestead Credit From State Gross Tax to local Govt 2004 332 115 447 2003 328 118 446 2002 342 144 486 2001 342 155 497 2000 336 169 505 1999 316 165 481 1998 314 156 470 1997 322 167 489

Commercial Property in Mt Ayr year Tax 2004 2420 2003 2364 2002 2472 2001 2448 2000 2276 1999 2424 1998 2366 1997 2460

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There are problems with the present tax system but in a low valuation county and low rates of increase in values such as the bulk of Ringgold County the present system results in very flat tax bills. Beware of anyone who wants to change the present system in an effort to control your "rapidly increasing tax bill"

I should point out that the homestead credit in any district is the same amount of dollars whether the house is 15,000 or 150,000 of assessed value in any given year. Also any one year taxes may reflect increased or decreased projects which may be underway in any government enity,