Property Tax
It has always been my position that taxing property in this modern day and age is an improper and unjust way of taxing. At one time, generations ago, property tax was one of the few ways of trying to make a reasonable valuation of a person’s wealth and income in order to tax. The amount of land, buildings upon it, land under cultivation, number of workers, machinery, location of land, and use or purpose of the property all contributed to making an educated evaluation of a person’s wealth and income. Charleston at one time in its history, used the front footage of the property for taxing purposes, which is the reason most old houses are built with the short side to the street and the long side into the block. However, in those days there was no income tax.
The time for a change in taxing has come. But it seems that no local politician will ever champion the cause of eliminating property tax. It is a forgiving tax-for the politicians. Yet, it is a cruel tax for the public. Three Habitat houses were lost last year to property tax. Reassessment caused the taxes on a $35,000 house to increase and the owners could not afford them. A terrible shame. Property tax is also a cause of lost vehicles. Unfortunately, those who lose them need them the most for job transportation, especially as our bus system is still not a truly viable option for job transportation. For anyone to lose a home or vehicle to property tax is a crime-I would call it immoral-especially since the money used to buy either has already been taxed as income. Property tax is simply a tax on income again, an income that has already paid tax on itself.
Many will say that property tax is a state issue, and overall it is. Many kudos to Quinn and Sheheen in the statehouse for being the only legislators to make a real and decently intelligent effort to reform the property tax system. I will work with other politicians, citizens groups, the general assembly, whoever and whatever I must to find relief for our citizens. I have the patience and desire to make this change.
There are ways locally around property tax, and soon I will write about a viable option. Let me say that as your elected councilman I will be a tireless and relentless champion of the cause to remove or replace property tax with something much fairer and equitable, which also means accountable to the people while being an adequate revenue stream to fund necessary governmental services.