By Brian Massie, A Watchman on the Wall
This is a follow-up to our article comparing the property taxes collected for 46 taxing authorities for 2025 versus 2015. We will have a third article breaking down the taxing authorities lumped under “Lake County Government”.
Here are the taxing authorities lumped under Lake County:
- General Fund Account
- Metroparks
- Lakeland Community College
- Mental Health
- Children Services
- Deepwood
- Narcotics
- Forensic Laboratory (Crime Lab)
- Senior Citizens
That would make a total of 54 taxing authorities!
From the Auditor’s Schedule A we were able to refine our analysis and compare the property tax increase by taxing authority by Class comparing 2015 to 2025. There are three classes of property taxes – Class 1 (Residential and Agriculture), Class 2 (Commercial and Industrial), and Class 3 (Public Utility).
Class 1 increased $106,825,178 or 39.4% over 2015 [84.1% of total]
Class 2 increased $8,898,965 or 11.0% over 2015 [7.0% of total]
Class 3 increased $11,303,958 or 28.3% over 2015. [8.9% of total]
Total increase was $127,028,101 or 33.3% over 2015.
Businesses can, subject to market pressure and cost control, increase salaries to cover inflationary costs. Government simply increases taxes to cover their inflationary costs. The property taxes gives the government the perfect cover to increase taxes without a vote of the people. We have been duped, and citizens are totally unaware of the scam perpetrated on them.
It is the private sector, especially those on fixed incomes, that bare the brunt of the rising costs of government.
Sadly, the government wins out because they are the ones that really own your home. Stop paying your property taxes, and you will find out who really owns your home. A word to the wise: If you continue to vote for property tax levies, you will be funding your own demise. School districts at the 20 mill floor will continue to receive increases in revenue without a vote of the people. Also, the inside millage will increase taxes without a vote of the people – that is the way it is designed by our state legislators.
WE ARE MERELY RENTERS FROM THE GOVERNMENT!
ANY TAX CAUSING A CITIZEN TO BECOME HOMELESS IS IMMORAL!
Here is the detailed report giving the increase by Class for each taxing authority. Look for our third report as we dissect the taxing authorities that make up the “Lake County Government”.
As we studied the schedules, we thought about these questions:
- What is the role of government?
- Should the government be involved in education?
- Who is ultimately responsible for the education of a child?
- How important is the family structure in our society?
- When we have a problem, do we first look to the government to solve the problem?
- Why should I own property?
- What does freedom and liberty mean? Are they important?
- What role should the church play in our society?
- Is our representative democracy merely an illusion?
- Should a senior be forced to live in government subsidized housing?
- What is the American dream for those under thirty years of age?
- Should the taxpayer be required to pay for inefficient, bloated taxing authorities?
- Why are there no checks and balances to protect the financial interests of the taxpayers?
- Should public schools compete for the children?
- Should public schools provide services other than teaching the 3 R’s?
- Should the homeowner or business owner pay for government services not used?
- Are we “in this all together”, and should we succumb to socialism?
- What is the difference between socialism and communism?
Categories: Community Activism, Lake County - General, Real Estate Taxes, Uncategorized