You Tell Me
When's the last time anyone asked what you think about County issues and the priority they should receive? I invite you to a Voter's Forum on Thursday, April 27th, 6:30pm, in the Flag Room of the Astoria Public Library, where you can do just that. Roads; jail, substance abuse and public safety in general; the North Coast Business Park; economic development; land use and planning, permits, code enforcement; parks and recreational lands; the fairgrounds; the college; etc.
Hope to see you there.
5 Comments:
Are you hearing anything about Property values?
Not sure how widespread this is, but I know multiple landowners that own farm-land, that just had their property-assessed tax values raised 1000% at the start of this year. You can only guess how many more thousands of dollars this will mean for Clatsop County coffers.
Imagine paying taxes on a $200,000 (or so they say) plot of land, that you can't farm because you can't make any money and you can't build on because it's farmland and the only way to get it re-valued is to take the County to court, which costs thousands itself?
People scoff when I mention a consumption tax that vistors will also have to pay, but have no problem raising taxes on someone who owns a plot of land that they can't do anything with, as long as it's "not them".
I think it was Lylla Gaebel who, after noting some strange assessments in property that had been auctioned, asked the County Manager at the last Commission meeting for a primer on how Real Market Value is derived and taxes actually are assessed. Good question.
I will admit that, the values they told me their property was valued before the increase was way to low. But the new rates are absurd. There has to be some medium here. BTW they are all in District 3 (Youngs Valley + LC)
after noting some strange assessments in property that had been auctioned
Were they too high, too low, or just "all over the place"?
I have made no secret that I disagree with the way the county "Taxes" people. They keep regular property tax rates low for the majority of the county and sneak things in here and there that can be spotted easily if they are compared to other muny's in the County.
I'm glad LG is speaking out a bit and IMHO will one thing that the commission will lose if the elections go a certain way; someone questioning "what the hell is going on"?
They were all over the place. Thanks, Tryan, for reinforcing the need to get the question answered. We'll stay on top of it, Lylla and I.
County Charter Review should be a priority subject amongst the others and pray don't tell me some "twit" will actually suggest and attempt to legislate reverting back to "At-Large" County Commissioners.
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