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Opinion
Reval Fallout: Maybe It Does Take Time To Evaluate...

First, does Lonnie Coplen representing the Cragsmoor Association know whether the people complaining of "errors related to the property inventory" let assessors on to the properties and into the homes in question?

Also, it seems from the resident reaction portrayed in various SJ articles that most folks don't quite understand that one's increase in valuation does not necessarily mean a lot more in taxes. The real property taxes paid are determined by the tax rate per thousand. So, if one had a hundred thousand dollar increase in assessed value and the tax rate was 2.0 that would mean a $200 tax bump.

Also it seems that a there is a basic lack of understanding of how upgrading surrounding properties increases the desirability of the neighborhood which increases the value of every property in that area.

And don't forget that if your valuation went up greatly, that means you have not been paying your fair share. For quite a long time in Wawarsing's case.

Of course, no one wants to see people having to sell their homes because they can no longer afford them. But, it isn't fair either to disallow people new to the area from becoming home owners because they cannot afford their taxes due to being charged too much compared to those not paying their fair share.

Beside, this fear is not so prevalent in reality. As stated above, wait until you see your actual tax bill before assuming you won't be able to afford it. If, however your new tax burden is too much, think of the extra value you can expect (beyond what you thought your home was worth) when selling it.

I just wish residents would become so impassioned during the interceding years between assessments that they'd storm their town board meetings demanding revaluation every few years so that values would be kept up to date and fairness maintained.

But, as we all know, this does not happen.

As for Lonnie Coplen's statements, "Wealthy residents live in MANY places in Wawarsing. Cragsmoor like everywhere else in Wawarsing is ALSO home to people that are NOT wealthy trying to make a living in an economically depressed area, and to quite a few retirees living on Social Security... The effects of imposing these values on Cragsmoor will be devastating;" what else do your propose? You seem to be suggesting that the old system of hugely unfair assessments (usually weighed heavily in favor of the long residing — those residents in essence being subsidized by newly arrived home owners) should be continued. Or that people unwilling or unable to pay their taxes should be allowed not to.

Also, your claim that "Property owners that cannot afford new taxes and are forced to sell their properties will be hobbled by lower relative market values resulting from higher taxes," doesn't ring true. The taxes that seem too high to people unused to paying such amounts doesn't mean people coming in from other areas believe the same. Most probably would consider the taxes as still being low. So, I doubt anyone would be swayed against buying a home in Wawarsing by the new, fairer assessments.

Lastly, as unfortunate as it may be, it's a fact that people without the money to pay their taxes cannot own a home.

I urge folks in Warwarsing to get ALL the facts before going ballistic. Those of you that have been rewarded by the broken system for years and years will now have to face the fact that you need to pay your fair share; it will be more than you've paid; it's the right thing to do. And for those few having to sell their homes, just feel thankful that you have an asset to cash in to fund your new future residence.



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