Saturday, December 27, 2008

Cumberland County's Tax Rate Keeps Rising!

Hello
I was going to chill out on politics but I read a letter to the editor in the Daily Journal and I had to join in. Here are some facts on the ever-increasing tax rate that the County keeps inposing on taxpayers of our county
The county tax rate has steadily increased from 2001 to the present:
  • Starting in 2001, the rate was $1.041 per $100 of assessed property value. In 2002, it increased 3.3 cents to $1.074.
  • In 2003, the rate increased 5.8 cents to $1.132.
  • In 2004, the rate increased 8.4 cents to $1.216.
  • In 2005, the rate increased 21.7 cents to $1.433.
  • In 2006, the rate increased 13.3 cents to $1.566. In 2007, the rate increased 12.3 cents to $1.689.
  • And in 2008, the rate increased 17.2 cents to $1.861.

    To put these numbers into a meaningful perspective, I used a property with a net taxable valuation of $100,000. In 2002, the Cumberland County tax payable on this assumed property would be $1,074. Fast forward to 2008. The county tax rate of $1.861 would result in a bill of $1,861 for the property owner. In seven years, the resulting increase of $787 yielded a whopping 73 percent increase.

  • We need to work together in this county to attend meetings hold our County leaders accountable especially the most powerful man in the County!

    2 comments:

    Anonymous said...

    WOW!! How does anyone keep thier heads above water???

    Carl B. Johnson said...

    Certain groups are quick to blame the local city commissions when in fact Lou Magazzu and Doug Rainear (Freeholder director and former Freeholder director) are behind the bulk of the tax increases.

    And what do we get for those taxes? I mean besides the Freeholders giving large sums of money to their cronies and friends...

    You have to pay to use the county landfill. You have to pay for virtually every county "service" that our tax dollars are supposedly funding!

    And the Freeholders refuse to maintain county roads. The county lost a recent lawsuit because the Freeholders FAILED to maintain a county road so that it was safe. A motorcyclist was gravely injured due to their negligence.

    The County again, under the control of Magazzu and Rainear, lost another lawsuit because they allowed illegal and unconstitutional strip searches in the county jail.