Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Stop Taxing Property

Property tax apologists argue that raising sales tax to replace property tax would hurt the poor. Consider the following:

1) Like anyone else, the poor want to own personal property free and clear. Since property tax continues indefinitely after you have 'paid off' your home, automobile and other 'possessions,' it effectively prohibits private ownership.

2) Property tax, more than any sales tax, oppresses the poor. How many poor folks fear losing their homes because they can't pay sales tax? Ask them how very real that fear becomes when they consider their property tax.

3) Do you think most poor people would prefer paying a slightly higher sales tax on purchases spread over the year, or a large lump sum-in addition to the property tax hidden in their monthly mortgage or rent, on October 10?

4) Prices should not rise significantly after sales tax increases, since businesses no longer will be forced to mark up for property tax. Businesses factor their property tax into the price of their goods and services. Rich or poor, we pay this equally. Instead of blindly paying this hidden charge, as is now the case, pay it as sales tax would expose it for what it is a tax.

End this outrageous, socialistic assault on your fundamental right to own private property. Abolish the property tax.

Jim Metheny

Springdale