Topic: TAXES FOR LAW ENFORCMENT

[crazy horse]

I don't think so conservative democrat. That would be virtually impossible to do. It would easily be caught by audits and/or others in the system. No, it would have to be a legal TIFF situation. I know for a fact Dennis wouldn't do that, nor Bill Ransdall (if you are indicating non-legal TIFF). But, I am not sure what you are meaning, so pardon me if I am misunderstanding you.

[Elvis 11]

It is my understanding that tax increment financing or TIF plan is an arrangement that government entity's use to generate property tax dollars for economic development in specific areas or zones. A TIf allows all new property tax dollars generated or a portion of the tax dollars generated from a TIF zone to be given back to the developer of that zone for a number of years. A TIF plan  could be used as an incentive to help developers pay for things like land, buildings, parking lots that sort of thing to encourage growth in different areas. TIFS are completly legal. I was wondering if the county has entered in any of these that could cause the property tax revenues to be so low and everyones property taxes to be so much higher. I believe St. Robert and Waynesville both have TIF zones. Seems that with all the new development on St. Robert Blvd. and all the new housing areas in the county the tax revenues would be much higher than they are.

[02Tundra]

But aren't property tax and sales tax handled completely different when it comes to TIFs?  I know that the County has to have a higher amount of property tax and personal property tax due to the number of new homes in the area.  One thing you must remember though is that active duty military personnel from other states do no pay personal property tax in MO, they are exempt, however, they still pay the property tax associated with the home.  From what I've seen over the years is that the schools get almost all of this tax (i.e. $490 personal property tax, $375 went to school) and I know the property tax bill is pretty close to this break down as well.

[cowboy]

CD WHAT IS IT YOU THINK IS GOING ON WITH PROPERTY TAXES AND WHATS YOUR POINT.   YOU SHOULD REMEMBER THERE WAS A REASSESSMENT LAST YEAR AND PROPERTY TAXES WENT TO A NEW HIGH.  IN FACT IF YOU RECALL THEY WENT TO THE NEXT LEVEL THAT TRIGGERED THE RAISE IN SALARIES FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS DURING THEIR NEXT TERM.   02T IS CORRECT THE SCHOOLS GET MOST OF THE MONEY PLUS LIBRARY SENIOR CITIZENS ETC.   IT THEY DOUBLED THE SHERIFF WOULDN'T GET ANY MORE MONEY IT COMES FROM THE SALES TAX REVENUE.   IF YOU LISTEN TO THE NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD PEOPLE ARE NOT SPENDING AS MUCH MONEY NOW AS THEY DID PLUS WE HAVE TROOP DEPLOYMENTS SO THE REVENUE BASE IS GETTING SMALLER

[Lepard LLC]

What I don't get is why isn't everyone isn't outraged that their assesed value went up at a time when we all know our property values have dropped?

   YOU SHOULD REMEMBER THERE WAS A REASSESSMENT LAST YEAR AND PROPERTY TAXES WENT TO A NEW HIGH. 

[murfyzlaw]

Good point Rick !!  I live in the county and mine went up about 80%.

[Elvis 11]

One would think that with Wal-Mart and Lowes, Millers Grill and all the new hotels and housing areas in the county, even with reassessment, county tax revenues should have gone higher. A TIF deal is not going to show on the books until it expires, only those who make them know what they are.  I don't think any thing illegal went on if there are any. Ethically if anything they should be revealed to the tax payer so they know why the revenues are down, and why the sheriff has to scrape for any pittance of money he can get.  I wonder if they have any in place,  Just my thoughts.

[cowboy]

Property tax revenues are not down.   The sheriffs money comes from SALES TAX REVENUES not property tax. Why is this so hard to understand???

[♥♣ ~Maynard~♣♥]

One would think that with Wal-Mart and Lowes, Millers Grill and all the new hotels and housing areas in the county, even with reassessment, county tax revenues should have gone higher. A TIF deal is not going to show on the books until it expires, only those who make them know what they are.  I don't think any thing illegal went on if there are any. Ethically if anything they should be revealed to the tax payer so they know why the revenues are down, and why the sheriff has to scrape for any pittance of money he can get.  I wonder if they have any in place,  Just my thoughts.

[crazy horse]

Cowboy is correct. The sheriff gets a budget from the county, which is a sales tax. The Road & Bridge has its own Property tax, which was voted in by the people years ago. Currently, everyone's sales tax is low because of the economy.
 
Elvis, the entire county system is scrapping for money; not just the sheriff. His budget was established early in the year during the budget process.

[02Tundra]

I've mentioned this a few times now and have never heard anything to answer the question.  Crazy Horse could you possible weigh in on this question, believe you might know how this is figured?  We know the schools get a large percent of our property and personal property tax, correct.  What percentage does the school get on these two taxes, do you know?  Why couldn't a review be initiated to see if the schools really need the amount of money they currently receive from these two tax sources?  Remember the schools also receive money from other sources as well.  If it is found that the schools don't need as large of a slice of these tax dollars, why couldn't some be diverted to other government agencies like LE?  I'm not privy to how this is handled, but it makes sense that if one segment is running a surplus (And I'm not saying the schools are, but who knows) do the paperwork to move funds to other segments that are hurting.   

[Lepard LLC]

I hear they are going to build another school. They can't be doing too bad.

[Pete]

I hear they are going to build another school. They can't be doing too bad.

Look at how Waynesville HS got built. Do I need to say more. It sure was not voted for.

[soso]

Look at how Waynesville HS got built. Do I need to say more. It sure was not voted for.

I'm really glad to hear that I'm not the only one that has a bad taste for the new HS

[♥♣ ~Maynard~♣♥]

I'm really glad to hear that I'm not the only one that has a bad taste for the new HS

Does the 3 second rule apply here?

[soso]

Does the 3 second rule apply here?

LOL

[matrsnot]

But they can't afford books for all the students.

[soso]

But they can't afford books for all the students.

But they have a new football field.

[crazy horse]

O2tundra, these are state legislation issues. The school or other entities pass certain tax levies as per state statute. I will use the old ambulance district levy (which is no longer in effect as we went to a sales tax) because it is the one I know the most about. Back in 1987 when the ambulance district was formed by the people, the state law allowed a levy of up to .30 of the 100 dollar evaluation. The district could never go above that .30 evaluation. They can go lower, but not higher without voter approval. The school district's levies are much higher as allowed by Missouri law. It was passed by the people years ago, then various changes over time by statute.
There is no mechanism in place in Missouri law to take money from one political subdivision and redistribute to other organizations. It would be illegal and illogical. Where would it stop? As for redistribution to the sheriff's dept., the dept. is not a political subdivision, it is a county dept. funded through general county revenue. Dave feel free to jump in, but as far as I know and lawyers I have asked know, there is no mechanism to do this. The people establish library, ambulance, fire district, school, roads and so forth tax levies by vote and strict Missouri law. These levies cannot be redistribed to other areas. For example, when I was a commissioner someone would say: why don't you take Road and Bridge money, or the Courthouse Building money and suplement the sheriff's budget? To have done so would have been an illegal act. This is how our government is established.
 

[~kathy~]

For example, when I was a commissioner someone would say: why don't you take Road and Bridge money, or the Courthouse Building money and suplement the sheriff's budget? To have done so would have been an illegal act. This is how our government is established.
 

true so very very true

[02Tundra]

Crazyhorse:  Thanks for the update.  It makes sense, but I just didn't know how it worked.

soso:  No your not the only one that has a bad taste in your mouth.  Then you have the BS about the road going into the new HS, which really burnt me, because from what I've seen, it was done that way to save the school district money.  Problem is that funds that could have been used elsewhere are now being used to divert the road.  I agree that the road, as it currently runs is unsafe and should be diverted.  I feel that fact should have been address when they first started planning for the school, not after the fact.

[Elvis 11]

The schools also get federal impact funds for every child associated with the military. I wonder how much impact aid the Waynesville district gets.  Add up the other school districts impact aid and we are talking some big bucks. I still think that Pulaski County should receive impact aid for the lack of property tax funds from the land on Fort Leonard Wood, to be used as a discretionary fund for the county, the sheriff dept. for example. Counties in Maryland, Nevada, Colorado and California have all asked their congressional representatives to support an endeavor like that. Long term fix, I know. I am not Fort Leonard Wood, veteran or soldier bashing either, so don't start down that trail. Just throwing out an opinion as I have done some research on impact aid sought by counties in other states. Do I think Ike will be for it, probably not. But other congressional representatives are. 

[Eeyore]

     I would think that giving impact aid to Pulaski county for the lack of property tax funds would be difficult for one main reason --- the folks living on Fort Leonard Wood are basically renters or boarders --- renters living off post, be they military, college students, or just people who can't/don't want to buy are also renters and renters do not pay property taxes.

The schools also get federal impact funds for every child associated with the military. I wonder how much impact aid the Waynesville district gets.  Add up the other school districts impact aid and we are talking some big bucks. I still think that Pulaski County should receive impact aid for the lack of property tax funds from the land on Fort Leonard Wood, to be used as a discretionary fund for the county, the sheriff dept. for example. Counties in Maryland, Nevada, Colorado and California have all asked their congressional representatives to support an endeavor like that. Long term fix, I know. I am not Fort Leonard Wood, veteran or soldier bashing either, so don't start down that trail. Just throwing out an opinion as I have done some research on impact aid sought by counties in other states. Do I think Ike will be for it, probably not. But other congressional representatives are. 

[Elvis 11]

Please understand that I am not talking about the good folks that live on post paying property tax here, many of them pay property tax in the state where they call their real home because they own real estate there.  I do understand that the good people that live on post are not land owners and I have no problem with them only paying sales tax when they come off post to buy things. I have been a renter most of my life and I have not paid a dime in real property tax to the county, personal property tax, YES a bunch. I feel that as the land owner, the federal government should pay impact funds to county governments that dont receive money for the thousands of acres out there. Just an opinion of a life long county resident, and again I am not bashing the military men and women on or off post who dont pay real estate tax. I guess I better clarify that I am also not federal government bashing either. I know that without the post or the people on it we would all be somewhere else, writing on a county blog. 

[Lepard LLC]

When you change your name on a post, it changes that name to all the posts you have made.. I am somewhat concerned you might not be the man for the job from what I read here. You pay no property tax? You talk about yourself in the third person? I have figured out by looking at all your old posts who you are now, so can many others as it has been pointed out to me.. The INTERNET community is not naive..

Please understand that I am not talking about the good folks that live on post paying property tax here, many of them pay property tax in the state where they call their real home because they own real estate there.  I do understand that the good people that live on post are not land owners and I have no problem with them only paying sales tax when they come off post to buy things. I have been a renter most of my life and I have not paid a dime in real property tax to the county, personal property tax, YES a bunch. I feel that as the land owner, the federal government should pay impact funds to county governments that dont receive money for the thousands of acres out there. Just an opinion of a life long county resident, and again I am not bashing the military men and women on or off post who dont pay real estate tax. I guess I better clarify that I am also not federal government bashing either. I know that without the post or the people on it we would all be somewhere else, writing on a county blog. 

[Auctioneer Ed]

What I don't get is why isn't everyone isn't outraged that their assesed value went up at a time when we all know our property values have dropped?

Why do you think I opted to take a run for the position of assessor? Values are what they are! not what we would like for them to be. They should be fair and equitable across the county. I suspect some disparity in similar properties' valuations.
 
Like I said before, property taxes suck! But they should suck equally for everybody.
 
But that won't help the Sheriff's Office. That's the sales tax thing as others have pointed out.

[Elvis 11]

I know the name changes Rick, I watch what I post. I notice others have different names and I was exploring that option. I received a message with an elvis character after I had switched my name and I switched again to ask them how I can use it. I didnt ask for, nor do I want or need your endorsement. As far as the job I am a candidate because I know I can do better than what we have now, and I am qualified for the job, I would have already dropped out if I thought I wont do a better job than those who are also running. As far as paying taxes, I have paid personal property tax since I was 17 years old. Just for your information, as I have stated many times I live on my brothers farm. I live in a mobile home that I am paying for, so I don't pay real estate tax, my brother does. I am not a rich man like many of you, I have to make my signs for the job. It does not disqualify me from the job because I do not own real estate, so what difference does that make. I got on this site because I was asked to come on. I thought that is what you all wanted, candidates and the current seated office holders on the site to get their opinions. I liked what I saw on here so I have been reading to gather information and get ideas. What other purpose is the site suppose to have, other than getting information and giving opinions. I have received a lot of information about the law enforcement tax and I support a form of the tax because of what I have learned here. I have never suggested that any one is naive or that any one cant figure out who I am. My web site is on the bottom of this response and has been for a while. Maybe you should only be inviting people to the blog that feel the same as you. Maybe every time someone writes something they should say all the names they are capable of writing something under so we all know who they are.   

[Elvis 11]

What happened to the be nice rule on here, maybe the site administrator should practice what is preached.

[♥♣ ~Maynard~♣♥]

What happened to the be nice rule on here, maybe the site administrator should practice what is preached.

I thought he was very nice in his responce....
 Damn you should see what he's like when he pissed

[~kathy~]

yes teddy was asked to come on here, i was the one who asked him. none of the commissioners that are in office right now will get on here and post anything for the public because they really dont care what the people want. the only commissioner i have ever respected was gary because he was willing to post answers on things we wanted to know about. and that is why i respect teddy because he is willing to do the same. i have known him for 33 years now and he would do a great job.