Montgomery Co. budget calls for 8.7 pct. tax hike

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In these times where property values are increasing, there is already a built-in property tax increase - this 8+% is on top of that.

The standard of living in the county is going down and taxes are going up. This isn't good.

My standard of living has not decreased one bit. My family and my kids are flourishing. Think about it....you said it yourself. My property values are increasing. But I understand your point - I just think it is too early to get riled up about it. And bringing in the subject of children of illegals (most of these children being citizens themselves) is a red herring IMO. We have plenty of financial follies hitting the budget - pet projects for Council Members, etc. but blaming the County's budget problems on ESOL students just is not accurate.

You responded to me as well as to some other posters with this. I am not blaming ESOL for this. I am simply saying that $350 may not seem like a big deal, but it's more than $350 since property values are also rising. This rise has little to do with the MOCO govt and more to do with the local economy. This affects renters and those on a fixed income a lot more than it affects you. I am glad you are doing well and see this rise property taxes as no big deal, but many who don't benefit so much from the services (and even those that receive services) are struggling and it's somewhat of a big deal to them..

No need to worry about a free ride here. If you truly believe the tax hike is going to ESOL (even though it isn't), you can relax because all the immigrants who rent houses, THs and condos will pay increased rents to cover the tax hike on landlords.

Not to get too political here, but there most certainly is a free ride or near free ride for those at the lower-income level. whether it be Section 8, subsidized housing or 6 kids living in a 3BR townhouse, the people in 800K houses are paying the bulk of the freight. Let's be real.

Dear Clueless:

Only citizens are eligible for Section 8/subsidized housing. So you can relax: illegals aren't getting a free ride. And like I said before, they will bear the brunt of these property taxes by paying increased rents for SFHs, THs and condos.

Dear Genius:

I never addressed "illegals". Try again.

Nice try, but read the thread you quoted.

Either way you are wrong.

Now I'm going to do the Church Lady's superiority dance.

OMG, you quoted my post, you must agree with everything I said. OMG you are stupid.

Keep digging, and I'll keep dancing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In these times where property values are increasing, there is already a built-in property tax increase - this 8+% is on top of that.

The standard of living in the county is going down and taxes are going up. This isn't good.

My standard of living has not decreased one bit. My family and my kids are flourishing. Think about it....you said it yourself. My property values are increasing. But I understand your point - I just think it is too early to get riled up about it. And bringing in the subject of children of illegals (most of these children being citizens themselves) is a red herring IMO. We have plenty of financial follies hitting the budget - pet projects for Council Members, etc. but blaming the County's budget problems on ESOL students just is not accurate.

You responded to me as well as to some other posters with this. I am not blaming ESOL for this. I am simply saying that $350 may not seem like a big deal, but it's more than $350 since property values are also rising. This rise has little to do with the MOCO govt and more to do with the local economy. This affects renters and those on a fixed income a lot more than it affects you. I am glad you are doing well and see this rise property taxes as no big deal, but many who don't benefit so much from the services (and even those that receive services) are struggling and it's somewhat of a big deal to them..

No need to worry about a free ride here. If you truly believe the tax hike is going to ESOL (even though it isn't), you can relax because all the immigrants who rent houses, THs and condos will pay increased rents to cover the tax hike on landlords.

Not to get too political here, but there most certainly is a free ride or near free ride for those at the lower-income level. whether it be Section 8, subsidized housing or 6 kids living in a 3BR townhouse, the people in 800K houses are paying the bulk of the freight. Let's be real.

Dear Clueless:

Only citizens are eligible for Section 8/subsidized housing. So you can relax: illegals aren't getting a free ride. And like I said before, they will bear the brunt of these property taxes by paying increased rents for SFHs, THs and condos.

Dear Genius:

I never addressed "illegals". Try again.

Nice try, but read the thread you quoted.

Either way you are wrong.

Now I'm going to do the Church Lady's superiority dance.

OMG, you quoted my post, you must agree with everything I said. OMG you are stupid.

Keep digging, and I'll keep dancing.

LOL, you're very "special".

[Anonymous]

If you live in MoCo, and you've voted for these same politicians for decades, don't be surprised when they raise your taxes yet again.

This "final straw" stuff is nonsense, unless you have actively opposed those in office by voting for fiscally responsible people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Fine...but how do YOU think the County should account for the lost revenue due to the income tax structure ruling? Other counties just appear to be cutting budgets. not trying to make up for the shortfall.

And we have not had a significant property tax rate increase in YEARS! So, yea if it happens again next year, I would be right there with you. If does not happen for another 5-6 years, I am not so concerned.

Sorry...I just do not subscribe to the theory that every tax increase is bad. And as far as illegal immigration, you are not collecting property taxes from a lot of them because the majority rent. In which case, you are STILL collecting taxes from their landlords. And even the ones who have purchased ARE paying property taxes.

One way: stop spending so much? IDK, maybe some of us this a junket to Cuba (and god knows wherever else) is excessive?

Guess what, I haven't had a PAY increase in YEARS! Matter of fact, my take home is now less because of insurance premiums have gone up tremendously.

Hey silly, renters DO pay property taxes. It's included in the price of the rent!

But hey, what's ANOTHER $350? That's almost 2 weeks of groceries for my family. Or a car payment. Or several months of Metro passes. That's about 15-20 tanks of gas...

Should I go on?

[Anonymous]

Someone should do a FOIA and request info on how much was spent (wasted) on "consultants" this last FY.

The jaunt to Cuba pales in comparison.

[Anonymous]

What's the tax structure like in MoCo? Are there industries that aren't paying in their fair share? Is there an (honest) thinktank that does a review of local tax base and policy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you live in MoCo, and you've voted for these same politicians for decades, don't be surprised when they raise your taxes yet again.

This "final straw" stuff is nonsense, unless you have actively opposed those in office by voting for fiscally responsible people.

I wish we had 2 party representation in MoCo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sadly, this is what happens when you have one-party ruling. Look at the big cities, poor Southern states, CA and IL (both parties). Look at the disaster of the Silver Spring parking garage. There is zero opposition to the elected leaders in MOCO. Look forward to a future of more non-accountability and more tax hikes to cover crony-capitalism and incompetence in MOCO

If you guys had voted for Phil Andrews, this would not have happened. But we get the government we deserve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sadly, this is what happens when you have one-party ruling. Look at the big cities, poor Southern states, CA and IL (both parties). Look at the disaster of the Silver Spring parking garage. There is zero opposition to the elected leaders in MOCO. Look forward to a future of more non-accountability and more tax hikes to cover crony-capitalism and incompetence in MOCO

If you guys had voted for Phil Andrews, this would not have happened. But we get the government we deserve.

???

Read the link. We have a budget situation because of a recent SC decision. We need this tax to pay for the settlement.

This would have happened under even the most conservative elected officials.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So let me get this straight.

The tax rate in the County has been flat for years. And the increase is partially to offset lost revenue due to the income tax structure being ruled unconstitutional last year. Yet some y'all still bitch and bring in all these tangential issues. On a $500,000 house, you will be paying an extra $350 a year. Cry me a river.

County employee here: I'm getting an 8% total raise under this proposed budget (a make-up step for the recession, plus a regular step, plus a 1% cola). And this kind of thing has been going on the past several years. Even though we are still trying to dig our way out of the biggest recession we've ever seen. Personnel costs are 80-90% of all government costs. While I love my raises, people really should be looking there. How does it compare to other local governments? How does it compare to the private sector? If raises had been more moderate over the past several years, I bet this property tax hike wouldn't be so necessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sadly, this is what happens when you have one-party ruling. Look at the big cities, poor Southern states, CA and IL (both parties). Look at the disaster of the Silver Spring parking garage. There is zero opposition to the elected leaders in MOCO. Look forward to a future of more non-accountability and more tax hikes to cover crony-capitalism and incompetence in MOCO

If you guys had voted for Phil Andrews, this would not have happened. But we get the government we deserve.

???

Read the link. We have a budget situation because of a recent SC decision. We need this tax to pay for the settlement.

This would have happened under even the most conservative elected officials.

That's peanuts under a $5.2 BILLION operating budget. Peanuts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you live in MoCo, and you've voted for these same politicians for decades, don't be surprised when they raise your taxes yet again.

This "final straw" stuff is nonsense, unless you have actively opposed those in office by voting for fiscally responsible people.

I wish we had 2 party representation in MoCo.

There are fiscally conservative Democrats. You just don't vote for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Responding to a MoCo tax hike by complaining about immigrants is nonsensical. As if the County Council controls federal policy. MCPS has to play the demographic hand they're dealt.

You know, if more localities complained to the federal government about the cost of supporting illegal immigrants, maybe, just MAYBE, they would start enforcing our laws.
It is ridiculous. I view this as an unfunded mandate by the feds.
And, this is precisely why Trump is rising in the polls.
A Clinton presidency will mean no illegal immigrants deported, which in turn, will mean more illegal immigration.

Has she actually said this? You know that a lot of illegals have been deported under the current administration, right? For all the criticism of Obama this always seems to be ignored.

She said that she wouldn't deport illegal immigrants unless they were convicted of a crime. And under the Obama administration deportations in the interior are down over 40%; the misleading deportation numbers they report are from fudging the numbers and counting people as "deported" who weren't counted before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you live in MoCo, and you've voted for these same politicians for decades, don't be surprised when they raise your taxes yet again.

This "final straw" stuff is nonsense, unless you have actively opposed those in office by voting for fiscally responsible people.

I wish we had 2 party representation in MoCo.

There are fiscally conservative Democrats. You just don't vote for them.

You are probably right. I wish there were more press for local races. I don't mind voting democrat and local races are what impact us the most. BTW, even tough I am a R, I don't mind tax raises if I didn't think the money was being wasted away on useless things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you live in MoCo, and you've voted for these same politicians for decades, don't be surprised when they raise your taxes yet again.

This "final straw" stuff is nonsense, unless you have actively opposed those in office by voting for fiscally responsible people.

I wish we had 2 party representation in MoCo.

There are fiscally conservative Democrats. You just don't vote for them.

You are probably right. I wish there were more press for local races. I don't mind voting democrat and local races are what impact us the most. BTW, even tough I am a R, I don't mind tax raises if I didn't think the money was being wasted away on useless things.

Yes, I agree the press coverage is horrible. I've watched it decline significantly over the past 10 years. I can understand why people outside of government don't really get what's going on. But it's just so frustrating.

The Montgomery County Taxpayers League is pretty good with information. They are a little conservative for me, but they stay up on County politics. Follow their site and you can find out about public hearings, meetings with government officials, etc.

http://www.mctaxpayersleague.org/about