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Show Volume XIV Issue XXII The Ogden Valley news Page September 1, 2007 Guest Commentary Utah—State of Greed commission wasn’t growth happy about the valley, properties would not be selling to real estate speculators at hugely inflated prices, and our property assessments would be reasonable. The fact that many “old timers” and folks like me, who hoped to live the remainder of their lives up here, will be forced out seems of little consequence to the commission. We are certainly too small a voting block to be a threat to anyone’s seat. It’s just simple politics and money. Second, can we expect help from the County Assessor’s office? We already heard the answer to that one. No! “We’re just doing what is mandated by the Utah Constitution as interpreted by the Utah State Tax Commission.” These good folks were introduced as “public servants.” I almost choked. They don’t do anything to serve us, the public. They work for the government, assisting the government in generating tax revenue. We may point out, one of us did, that their assessments are woefully inaccurate and unfair. I doubt the assessors care. I feel quite certain that they are much more concerned with following an assessment methodology that will please the Utah Tax Commission. Any pressure the county assessors might feel is not from us; it is from the concern that their evaluations will be criticized by the Utah Tax Commission—their real customer. It’s a “we follow the rules: we can’t worry about the impact on people” mentality. We heard a hint of the concern the assessors feel over approval from the state when one of the assessors implied that they were doing us a favor by keeping the assessments at only ninety-eight percent of the asking price of properties for sale VALLEY ZONING ISSUES - NEW ORDINANCES – TAX INCREASES Speak up for what you want . . . or Take what you get . . . . Take action today on urgent issues! For information on time sensitive issues facing Ogden Valley residents, your community, and your property, log onto www.Ogden-Valley.blogspot.com Please view on line petitions and add your electronic signature if you agree with VCRD position. Valley Citizens for Responsible Development (VCRD) VALLEY ZONING ISSUES - NEW ORDINANCES – TAX INCREASES TAX INCREASES –IRRESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT TAX INCREASES –IRRESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT My friends and fellow residents of the upper Valley, last evening many of us attended a community meeting to discuss the abysmal property tax situation we face here in this lovely valley. Meeting with a member of the Weber County Commission, a State Representative, and three members of the Weber County Assessor’s office we heard heartbreaking examples of how huge increases in property taxes threaten our ability to keep our homes. There were horrific examples of apparent injustices heaped on us by the assessors and pleas for help in putting things right. All in all, it was likely the most dismal meeting I’ve ever attended—including numerous funerals. The question I asked myself is, “What do I expect to happen as a result of this meeting?” The answer is pretty simple—NOTHING. Let me explain my answer by first presenting my take on our county government. We heard that the “truth in taxation” law prevented taxing entities (the county government) from reaping windfalls from increased property evaluations. It was plainly stated that county governments can only get additional revenue from property taxes on new development. It seems to me that one of the main motivations of our county commission is to encourage such development. Think of our valley. It could become a resort area with lots of new development and increased property tax revenues. I easily imagine that the Weber County Commission sees our valley as an uncut diamond just waiting to be turned into a real, and very profitable, jewel. My imagination is more than supported by the many actions of the commission that encourage unbridled growth in our valley. Think on it; if the county Labor Day Band ~ STR8UP ~ 11 AM - 3 PM Moonlit Gondola Ride September 22, 2007 Sunday Summer FREE Concerts 3 - 6 p.m. Earl’s Lodge on the Plaza 801-620-1000 ~ www.snowbasin.com in our valley. A two percent discrepancy! Pretty risky for career bureaucrats. Third, Mr. Froerer, our State Representative, has pledged to help us, and cited legislation he introduced as examples of his intent. Unfortunately, we also heard that property tax relief proposals introduced by Mr. Froerer and others in the 2006 legislative session, “didn’t get very far.” Should that surprise anyone? It is abundantly clear that the elected Utah State Government has much more weighty matters to deal with—giving Real Salt Lake a few million dollars to keep this wonderful team in our area, appropriating millions for a parking structure for the legislators, establishing a tax structure and incentives to encourage new businesses to come to the state to generate increased tax funds, debating endless non-binding resolutions, and establishing so called “ethics.” While I do not doubt that Mr. Froerer’s motivations to help are strong and pure, I profoundly doubt that his legislative colleagues will support him. After all, growth is the answer. “The more we grow, the more money we get.” I can’t imagine that the average state senator or representative will lose a heartbeat of sleep over seeing us forced out of our homes by the draconian property tax policies of the State of Utah. Do I have hope for relief? Not really. I expect to be forced from my home as soon as properties near me sell to speculators at grossly inflated prices, and my property assessment quadruples. In my analysis, the only possibility for relief from our dreadful property tax situation lies in changing the Utah State Constitution. There was considerable talk of California Proposition 13 at our meeting. It is most important to note that the good citizens of California passed Proposition 13 to amend the California Constitution in a state-wide ballot measure. It was a grass-roots effort led by a very wealthy man. It was strongly opposed by county governments and by the state. In our meeting, we heard that any Proposition 13-like property tax relief in Utah would need to come through the Utah State Legislature and the Governor’s Office. If that is true, I have absolutely no hope. Who in government would vote to put in place a measure that required them to be prudent and accountable and limit their ability to tax? If Utah law allows grass-root ballot measures to amend the Constitution, I have a slight hope that something might be done. I am fairly sure that we in the Upper Ogden Valley would vote to amend the Constitution to eliminate the malignant increases in property taxes that we face. I’m not so sure that other people in the State would do likewise. I fear that the average Utahan will view it as our problem, not theirs. After all, we saw in our meeting how unique the situation here in the Valley is: just a resort area waiting to happen! I feel, beyond doubt, if there is to be any possibility of relief that we, on our own, must make it happen. I cannot see getting help from anyone in the state elective government or the state bureaucracy. They are driven by motives of growth to gain more tax revenue. The government of Utah spent considerable time formulating a new state motto, “live elevated.” I suggest a more accurate and honest motto—Utah, the State of Greed. Richard W. Rohde, Liberty Labor Day - September 3 |