Did you ever consider that health problems can be caused by the property tax? How so, you ask? Stress, that's how.
It is proven that when people are subject to sustained stress they get sick. So when one is constantly concerned about their financial situation due to the extreme drain property taxes puts on their budget, they get sick. That stress is compounded by the anxiety caused by the thought continuously hanging over their head that they are going to be forced to leave family, friends and the home of a lifetime. Why? Because of the inablility to pay both property taxes and basic living expenses. Owning a home is no longer an anchor of security, it is a major cause of health and financial ruin just because of the property tax.
This would be especially the case among retirees, but not limited to them. Folk presently out of a job, downsized, or out on disability leave experience huge drops in income. The result in all cases is people becoming greatly stressed over how they are going to pay their bills. Prolonged stress not only causes illness, but upheaval within families. Something else we can live without.
The fact that property taxes are not based on one's income nor ability to pay means they continue to be collected regardless of one's financial situation. And whereas people in the described circumstances need every penny they have, it is not hard to imagine the extreme stress that results from the Catch 22 they are in.
But if there were no property tax, this major cause of health and financial problems would be eliminated. It would free up money so many could now afford to purchase regular or supplemental health insurance. Less stress would mean less illness which, in turn, means less demand for healthcare services. Less demand on services would cause a corresponding decrease in healthcare costs. Lower premimius would benefit everyone, individuals and businesses. There are no losers here.
When are we going to realize the property tax is regressive in more ways than we can imagine? It is time to end it.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Monday, April 10, 2006
Did you ever consider the American Dream would become the American Nightmare?
What does it take to run your household? Household expenses include such things as: food, utilities, auto insurance, fuel and maintenance, home repairs and maintenance, healthcare expenses, health insurance, home owner’s insurance, clothing, and many other miscellaneous daily expenditures.
Do you think you could afford to pay for these things if after you have paid your Property Tax you had $8,000 left? How about $16,000? $25,000? Do you think you would need more than these amounts?
The tragic truth is that there are thousands of N.J. home owners who are in this very situation. They are on limited incomes or even no income (due to loss of job or medical disability). And the State and its legislators along with many special interest groups are either blind to these facts or willfully ignore them.
Try this: Take your income and then subtract each of the figures above one at a time, figuring how much your propety tax turns out to be For example, say your net takehome pay is $100,000. Subtract $25,000 for all living expenses. That would mean your property tax would be $75,000. Absurd to pay 75% of your income in property tax? Do you think you could use those taxes to pay your living expenses? What is the bite was 92% of your takehome pay and you were left with only $8,000? Do you think people should pay 75% of their income towards property taxes? Do you think people should be forced to try to live on such miniscule amounts after paying their property tax?
Again, the tragic truth is that this is the crushing reality with many home owners in NJ. These are folk who have limited retirement incomes or have been downsized or have temporary or permanent disability or just are unemployed. Yet they are taxed an inordinate and obscene percentage of their income. They are left unable to pay for essential living expenses. This is why the Property Tax is the single most regressive tax in existence.
That the property tax has become the leading taxpayer concern is an understatement. Lifetime residents are being driven out of their homes and even their state due to the property tax. People are being forced to risk losing their home because they buy food, pay utility and medical bills instead of paying their property taxes. A tax sale and being evicted is the result. If they could only learn to live on air, not get sick and get free utilities, they would need not worry. This is why taxpayers are demanding their elected officials deal with this growing nightmare.
The challenge to N.J. voters is to begin to think differently when it comes to addressing the property tax issue. We need to look at this issue afresh, questioning the presuppositions upon which the present public discussion is based.
When considering the property tax issue, many begin with the assumption the property tax is a given. That is, they assume that as a tax it is not to be questioned as to its validity or fairness. It is presumed that it is here to stay; it cannot or even should not be eliminated. This is the first and greatest mistake being made. Sadly, it is made by the vast majority of those in the position to influence how this issue is resolved. This mistaken assumption is also the starting point of many grassroots organizations. And it is even taken by those most oppressed by it: the ordinary taxpayer. Why? Is it an immutable principle of the Universe, ordained by God?
Ideas have power and consequences. There is power in ideas. The power manifests when people adopt an idea as their own and live accordingly.
When one begins with the idea that the property tax cannot be eliminated, that is an idea with power. The one-sided consequence to this starting point is the property tax becomes foundational to proposed solutions. We see that again and again in the solutions being proposed to this problem.
We can no longer afford to make this mistake. We must be clear in our assumptions before we try to come up with a solution. Begin with the idea that the property tax can be eliminated and that will open up a host of fixes which would not be considered otherwise.
Please survey the arguments made on this website. They state why the citizens of New Jersey must look at the presupposition that the property tax is as inviolable and as untouchable and as here to stay as the rising and setting of the sun. It need not be. One only needs to accept the idea it is dispensable and proceed from there. What stops you from believing the property tax is dispensable?
Do you think you could afford to pay for these things if after you have paid your Property Tax you had $8,000 left? How about $16,000? $25,000? Do you think you would need more than these amounts?
The tragic truth is that there are thousands of N.J. home owners who are in this very situation. They are on limited incomes or even no income (due to loss of job or medical disability). And the State and its legislators along with many special interest groups are either blind to these facts or willfully ignore them.
Try this: Take your income and then subtract each of the figures above one at a time, figuring how much your propety tax turns out to be For example, say your net takehome pay is $100,000. Subtract $25,000 for all living expenses. That would mean your property tax would be $75,000. Absurd to pay 75% of your income in property tax? Do you think you could use those taxes to pay your living expenses? What is the bite was 92% of your takehome pay and you were left with only $8,000? Do you think people should pay 75% of their income towards property taxes? Do you think people should be forced to try to live on such miniscule amounts after paying their property tax?
Again, the tragic truth is that this is the crushing reality with many home owners in NJ. These are folk who have limited retirement incomes or have been downsized or have temporary or permanent disability or just are unemployed. Yet they are taxed an inordinate and obscene percentage of their income. They are left unable to pay for essential living expenses. This is why the Property Tax is the single most regressive tax in existence.
That the property tax has become the leading taxpayer concern is an understatement. Lifetime residents are being driven out of their homes and even their state due to the property tax. People are being forced to risk losing their home because they buy food, pay utility and medical bills instead of paying their property taxes. A tax sale and being evicted is the result. If they could only learn to live on air, not get sick and get free utilities, they would need not worry. This is why taxpayers are demanding their elected officials deal with this growing nightmare.
The challenge to N.J. voters is to begin to think differently when it comes to addressing the property tax issue. We need to look at this issue afresh, questioning the presuppositions upon which the present public discussion is based.
When considering the property tax issue, many begin with the assumption the property tax is a given. That is, they assume that as a tax it is not to be questioned as to its validity or fairness. It is presumed that it is here to stay; it cannot or even should not be eliminated. This is the first and greatest mistake being made. Sadly, it is made by the vast majority of those in the position to influence how this issue is resolved. This mistaken assumption is also the starting point of many grassroots organizations. And it is even taken by those most oppressed by it: the ordinary taxpayer. Why? Is it an immutable principle of the Universe, ordained by God?
Ideas have power and consequences. There is power in ideas. The power manifests when people adopt an idea as their own and live accordingly.
When one begins with the idea that the property tax cannot be eliminated, that is an idea with power. The one-sided consequence to this starting point is the property tax becomes foundational to proposed solutions. We see that again and again in the solutions being proposed to this problem.
We can no longer afford to make this mistake. We must be clear in our assumptions before we try to come up with a solution. Begin with the idea that the property tax can be eliminated and that will open up a host of fixes which would not be considered otherwise.
Please survey the arguments made on this website. They state why the citizens of New Jersey must look at the presupposition that the property tax is as inviolable and as untouchable and as here to stay as the rising and setting of the sun. It need not be. One only needs to accept the idea it is dispensable and proceed from there. What stops you from believing the property tax is dispensable?
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