Henry Raymond
Fairfax News => Current News & Events => Topic started by: Henry on August 05, 2010, 03:36:42 PM
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The Local Agreement Rate on your 2010 Property Tax Bill is The Veterans Exemption Rate that was passed by Australian Ballot in March 2010.
The way I understand it is that the exemption given to the Veterans is picked up by the other Tax Payers in town - Now if I don't have this correct, maybe someone more knowledgeable than I can explain this.
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Henry,
You are absolutely right. There is a saying, "nothing in life is free". The veterans in town are given a tax break on their properties, but the town budget was not reduced in proportion, therefore all of the other tax payers have to make up the difference.
I wanted to ask this question in Town Meeting, but was not able to since I could not go. My wife broke her leg and I was at home taking care of her and my children.
How much does the subsidization amount to? Will Fairfax will become a destination town for veterans?
Dave
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Tax Bills were being prepared to mail out by the girls, so I expect some of you will be getting them tomorrow or the next day. Would expect the amount will depend on the value of your property.
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Thought I heard someone say it was just a few dollars - not to worry - on top of the other few dollars and a few more dollars before that and a few more dollars on top of that and a few dollars before that! Oh well, just a few more dollars won't make a big difference.
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I copied this from another regular poster's signature line. I hope he doesn't mind.
A veteran is someone who, at one
point in his life, wrote a blank check
made payable to 'The United States of
America ' for an amount of 'up to and including My life.'
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Was the break for all veterans, or disabled veterans?
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Article 3 -
Shall the voters of the Town of Fairfax increase the disabled Veterans Exemption from $10,000 to $40,000
This article was voted on by Austrailain Ballot this past March and passed.
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What is the tax rate - 2.5 to 3%?
If I understand the exemption correctly, it is a reduction in the assessed value of a persons property. So, if his/her taxed property value is reduced by 10K at a 3% tax rate, the meand they are getting a reduction of $300. If they are getting a 40K reduction in taxed assessment value, that is $1200.
Personally, I would look at cutting a LOT of other things I'm willing to pay for before I look to cut that small benefit. I know the county my parents live in (in Northern NY) establishes the allowed exemption based on service status. 10K base exemption for veterans, more for service connected disabled vets and retired vets. Keep in mind the tax rate there is about 4% so it's a much bigger bill for everyone to pay.
In the abscence of a mandatory military service requirement that some countries have, I think this is a small price to pay for those of us who have chosen NOT to serve.
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I know that no one really likes taxes but I would ask the person complaining this question: What have you done for your country? I personally did not serve nor am I qualified of serving but as a military wife of 23 years I will tell you this. I rather pay taxes than the alternative. I bet every deceased friend of ours and their families would much rather pay taxes than go through the grief the rest of their lives. We have lost a great many friends and I would be more than happy to pay all their taxes just to see their children be able to see their Daddy just one more time. It is pennies in comparison. I do understand the tax being too high though. We pay way too many taxes.
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This really isn't the area to make a cut and I am ALL for cutting the Taxes. There are so many other areas to find savings to reduce our taxing without this minor number. It would be like eliminating several positions that pay $10/hour which would impact 20-30 employees when you could eliminate a position that paided $50,000.00 and just 2-individual's impacted.
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This additional tax rate is applied to all tax bills, some of these taxpayers are disabled, low income, have high medical expenses etc. This additional rate does not qualify for the Property Tax Rebate. What may be helping one group of people is a burden on others just as needy.
Perhaps the Veteran's employer, the US Government, should provide them with the benefits and services they need and have earned.
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How many disabled vets do we have in Fairfax? I can't believe there are enough to make any of us notice much of a difference in our tax bills.
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I have no problem giving a break like that to our local veterans. Thank you for your service and protecting the freedoms I have everyday.
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Municipal Tax Rate 0.3964
Local Agreement Rate 0.0016
This is the new disabled veteran's exemption.
We're giving a drop in a bucket to those who paid already.
I do not know how many disabled veterans we have in Fairfax.
I should !
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Nothing like taxes to jack people up!
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as far as tax cuts they should be for ones on active duty,either full time military or from a reserve/guard unit that was activated. The tax abatement for the disable should be equal the the percentage of disability.
the gov't shafts the vets at every turn anymore,when the draft was in and all the congressmen were in reserve/guard units they took care of themselves and the rest of the vets rode in on their shirttails, now that the draft is gone congressmen no longer are in reserve/guard units so they have no real benefit to stick up for, so guess what,take that dear vet.
another added benefit that the retirees have from the military is that even though they work for the 40 quarters in the regular work force they will have reduce social security benefits because they receive a pension.
the exact formula neither of my men knew but they were aware of the coming shaft. this is gov't care.
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I recall the number being low, like under 20-disabled Veterans here in the Town of Fairfax. Not a big number at all to worry much about!
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I know I should walk away sweetly on this subject but I just have to say something as far as being on "active duty"only. What about the person that lost their legs and was medically retired? What about the person that lost half their face due to a roadside bomb? What about the person that can't get out of bed in the mornings? Just a thought. These men and women are heoros and it is a small token of appreciation. Some heroes got the ultimate benefit and never have to pay a single tax again. I would suggest taking away welfare from the ones that play the game and do not work before compaining about 40% tax break for the ones that serve our country and protect our FREEDOM.
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Good point slpott ...
why don't folks say anything about those collecting Welfare at 100% and working under the table? Or collecting Welfare and shacked up with a partner who is working? why don't anyone talk about those able bodies who choose not to pay into this system?
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ok lets talk about them
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1st Sue I do not mind at all you using my Quote I did not make it up but stole it my self from somewhere.
2nd Being a combat veteran myself but not disabled I have no problem at all forking out a few dollars more for my brothers and sisters in arms that have been injured while fighting for our country. Like Slpott stated I to have friends that will never live a normal life again because of their service to our country and other friends that never came home at all. I think this is a small token for all of us to pay for the thing we get to enjoy and take for granted everyday.
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where did I hear it freedom is not free? I think all seniors should not have to pay school tax
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"Perhaps the Veteran's employer, the US Government, should provide them with the benefits and services they need and have earned."
And where does the US Government get the money for those benefits (when they are not just printing or borrowing it)? That's right, we are all paying for the benefits of EVERYONE, including many of those low income families, disabled people, even people drawing Social Security (yes, they paid into the system, but many will receive WAY more in benefits then they ever paid in - the cost all rolls downhill).
Picking up the tab for this offset is ONE of the few taxes I'm glad to pay.
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"about 40% tax break"
Let's not distort the issue here. We are not talking about a 40% tax break. Chris, correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the exemption is up to $40,000 off the assessed value of a person's home. Yes, it could be a 40% reduction in the local taxes paid by some people, but from what I've seen, it doesn't take much of a home around here to add up to way more than a $100K.
My parents home in Northern NY is assessed at $40K, but would easily be $100+ here. That, however, is an entirely different topic for a separate discussion thread.
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I know I should walk away sweetly on this subject but I just have to say something as far as being on "active duty"only. What about the person that lost their legs and was medically retired? What about the person that lost half their face due to a roadside bomb? What about the person that can't get out of bed in the mornings? Just a thought. These men and women are heoros and it is a small token of appreciation. Some heroes got the ultimate benefit and never have to pay a single tax again.
Nobody ever considers this group splott. Another point that people don't like to consider is that many veterans end up becoming homeless, you know that other group of needy losers people turn up their noses at?
I really can't believe the pissing & moaning over giving to disabled veterans. The numbers are astounding coming back from the Middle East of young men/women whose lives are changed forever because they volunteered to serve in a war that doesn't make much sense to most people.
I get that taxes are really high and no one wants to see their tax bill raised each year, but I also see plenty of nice homes and vehicles here in Fairfax. It's true that these homes cost less in other states, but as far as I'm concerned if folks are doing well enough to support that two story contemporary, drive a car less than 10 years old, send their kids to school in name brand clothes with cell phones, iPods, etc., pay for all the extracurricular fun to be had during the school year plus the family vacation AND also walk back to that big comfy couch in front of the HD TV by yourself after dinner, then what the &$%#@ are you complaining about a few bucks more on your taxes for?
I realize that putting out ones income for higher taxes to fund stuff that seems unnecessary, especially government programs to help those less"fortunate" is annoying to many people and I always ask myself why that is (aside from the obvious fraudulent cases that are often mentioned) By all outward appearances this community appears to be doing quite well as a suburb of Chittenden County.
A tour of the school parking lot gives a good indication that a majority of students are driving fairly well. It seems that the fabled "old beater" no longer exists or cars are just being made better or something. The teens I see driving have cars that are newer in appearance anyway. The cars parked at the businesses in town are mostly newer models. Everyone on this forum has a computer, a cell phone, a digital camera and I would guess other electronic must haves: dvd players, HDTV's, cable or a dish, the list goes on. I would bet everyone's kids is in possession of the same also. Add up the cost of these "necessities" and compare that to the added tax burden for the Veterans.
I think we're all very good with the talking points about sacrifice & love those weepy video montages on you-tube about what a soldier has to go through for your personal comfort, but I really don't think it ever quite clicks once the moment has passed and we're no longer verklempt. We're then moving on to what we (or our children) want next.
The point of this rant is: There are veterans whose lives have been forever altered in ways that ours have not, so think about whether or not an extra couple of hundred bucks on the tax bill is really going to bring the house down or just leave less money for Christmas? Will you not be to take a vacation or will you have to save longer to go where you really want to go? Will you have to eat rice and beans for a year instead of chicken or steak?
The question is what does it really mean to you? Not just the thought of your taxes being higher to aid someone else, but does it affect you in a real way?
This kind of complaining just look ridiculous in the big picture.
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Well stated, Lisa.
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I assume we should have received our bill by now, but we havent seen anything in the mail. We just bought the house in April, so maybe that is the problem. Who should I contact?
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Call Town Clerk's office GamingWeasel. 802-849-6111 THey are open until 4pm
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Thanks! I called and they are sending me out a copy. :)