TexasCHLforum.com

From my experiences in county government (treasurer of the county Emergency Services District), I see a multitude of problems with a move from property tax system to a sales tax system. It's my understanding that our local schools, county roads and bridges, emergency services (in many counties) and other local county services are funded primarily from property taxes within the county. The taxes are also levied on oil, gas and mineral "inventories", and in my county (Rusk), that's a large percentage of our tax base. No doubt, counties without the OGM revenue have a much higher rate on personal property than do we, but under the current system we have LOCAL CONTROL of our system and meet our needs through revenue collected in our own county. If we were to go to a state mandated and collected sales tax system, I would bet that we would get a much larger return from the "mother government" than what is collected in our county. There are a lot of counties much more rural and considerably less populated than Rusk County that still have roads, bridges, and the other needs that could in no way self support from their share of collected sales tax filtered through the centralized state controled tax machine.

Some complain that "renters" are able to evade property tax. Since the landlord does have to pay property tax, then you can bet that he ain't pulling it out of his lunch money. The renters are paying their share through their rent.

I don't like the tax system either, but I have a greater dislike for turning local control over to a centralized state system that would have to play the "Robinhood Scheme" to divvy out the funds as they see fit. I am a firm believer in local control and self reliance.

If you think your property taxes are too high, get involved in local politics, or at least attend the county commissioner's meetings and make your voice heard on how the money is being allocated, and try to put a damper on wasteful spending.

Just my opinions.


surv

didn't Ms Medina "out" herself when she posed for the news picture with her gun in her hand, sitting in her car... she asked for the barrage of gun related questions. In my opinion, she seems to be searching for a voter base in the firearms enthusiast community.

surv