By Brian Massie, A Watchman on the Wall
As we dig deeper into the complex world of property taxes, we keep wondering why does it have to be so complex that not even the State legislators understand the nuts and bolts of how it all works. Don’t believe me, just watch this video of Ohio State legislators get a basic lesson on property taxes.
https://ohiochannel.org/video/ohio-joint-committee-on-property-tax-review-and-reform-1-10-2024
With over two hundred years of history using property taxes as the main vehicle to fund most schools, counties, municipalities, police and fire, roads and bridges, libraries, senior centers, parks, mental health, crime labs, community colleges, etc, etc, etc., we ask the question why are property taxes used to fund everything rather than the income tax or sales tax?
The answer is because the revenue stream in more definable and predictable, can be easily foreclosed on for non-payment of taxes, and because of deceptions, written into the Ohio Constitution and the Ohio Revised Code by the State legislators. can be easily increased without a vote of the taxpayers.
Property ownership is the foundation of our liberty. Property ownership permits the transfer of wealth to the next generation. The phrase “You will own nothing, and be happy”, is communist propaganda.
We must go back an review former Ron Young’s words of wisdom on the top priorities of government:
Here are a few questions for our readers to contemplate:
- What do you believe is the role of government?
- What are the essential services that a local government should provide?
- Do you believe government should be involved in our lives from “womb to tomb”?
- What do you believe is the role of public education?
- Should public education look more like the “one-room school house”, or should schools become community centers that provide food, medical, dental and mental health services, and after school care for the children?
- Should a child be allowed to attend any school? Should schools compete for the children, and not automatically get the children that live in their district?
- Where is it written that a person should pay for the education of someone else’s child?
- Why should the taxpayers pay for services that they do not use?
- Should libraries, senior centers, parks, mental health boards, etc. be supported by usage fees?
- Should a taxpayer lose their home that they have worked all their lives to achieve because they cannot pay their property taxes?
We contend that any tax that, if unpaid, can cause a citizen to become homeless is immoral.
Sadly, many State legislators and County Auditors believe that if taxpayers cannot afford to pay their ever-growing property taxes, they should sell their home and move into an apartment!
If you ever wonder if government officials are worried about the average citizen, please refer to the Ron Young video above for your answer.
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Categories: Community Activism, Lake County - General, Uncategorized