Comments on: It’s Assessment Day in St. Louis County http://www.showmedaily.org/2009/03/its-assessment-day.html Advancing liberty with responsibility by promoting market solutions for Missouri public policy Wed, 23 May 2012 17:39:11 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Josh Smith http://www.showmedaily.org/2009/03/its-assessment-day.html/comment-page-1#comment-2052 Josh Smith Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:30:12 +0000 http://www.showmedaily.org/?p=3406#comment-2052 Great point. I was not aware of the specific inputs in assessment, clearly the current system incentivizes cheating and creates incentives not to improve. The tax based solely on property value and not on improvements has the added benefit of saving inspectors the trouble of dropping by. Great point. I was not aware of the specific inputs in assessment, clearly the current system incentivizes cheating and creates incentives not to improve.

The tax based solely on property value and not on improvements has the added benefit of saving inspectors the trouble of dropping by.

]]> By: David Stokes http://www.showmedaily.org/2009/03/its-assessment-day.html/comment-page-1#comment-2047 David Stokes Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:14:54 +0000 http://www.showmedaily.org/?p=3406#comment-2047 You have the right point and right issue but the wrong example of it. The quality of the house is an issue in the assessment, but only a small part of it. First you have the value of the land, then the basics of the house (# of bedrooms, bathrooms, square footage, etc.), and only then would the quality of the house come into play. I think the displeasure of your neighbors, the harm you do to your own quality of life, and the fines for your property upkeep violations would far outweigh the small tax savings you might get for letting your house go. Where your point - that assessments motivate decisions - is true is on additions and expansions. The fact that the addition of a finished basement or a new bedroom will increase your taxes absolutely can play a role in those decisions. For many people, it leads them to do the work under the table and not get the required permits and inspections. I am not going to cry because the government does not get its permit money, but a property tax based more on the value of the land and less on the improvements would serve as a motivation to improve your property because there would be no tax punishment for it. You have the right point and right issue but the wrong example of it. The quality of the house is an issue in the assessment, but only a small part of it. First you have the value of the land, then the basics of the house (# of bedrooms, bathrooms, square footage, etc.), and only then would the quality of the house come into play. I think the displeasure of your neighbors, the harm you do to your own quality of life, and the fines for your property upkeep violations would far outweigh the small tax savings you might get for letting your house go.

Where your point – that assessments motivate decisions – is true is on additions and expansions. The fact that the addition of a finished basement or a new bedroom will increase your taxes absolutely can play a role in those decisions. For many people, it leads them to do the work under the table and not get the required permits and inspections. I am not going to cry because the government does not get its permit money, but a property tax based more on the value of the land and less on the improvements would serve as a motivation to improve your property because there would be no tax punishment for it.

]]> By: Josh Smith http://www.showmedaily.org/2009/03/its-assessment-day.html/comment-page-1#comment-2041 Josh Smith Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:40:17 +0000 http://www.showmedaily.org/?p=3406#comment-2041 If we assume that assessment takes into account the state of repair of the house, is it not the case that property tax assessment disincentivizes keeping your house in good shape? Repairs can already be quite costly, but knowing they can drive up your annual tax bill might be enough to cause some people to let their house go. If we assume that assessment takes into account the state of repair of the house, is it not the case that property tax assessment disincentivizes keeping your house in good shape? Repairs can already be quite costly, but knowing they can drive up your annual tax bill might be enough to cause some people to let their house go.

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