On the general revenue taxing authority, there’s Charlack, Edmundson and Flordell Hills: amusing little dots on the map that balance the budget with traffic tickets.

And there’s Country Life Acres and Huntleigh, where people have everything they need for this life and the next few (in case that whole Hindu reincarnation thing is legit).

Very close to insignificant.

I am a fiscal conservative. However, you need to look at what these taxing entities did when they set their rates back in August and September. If they voted to keep their rates the same, i.e. not increase taxes on their residents, how is it their responsibility to adjust?

The cost of gasoline for city vehicles and asphalt, now $50 a ton vs $17.50 just a few years ago, have skyrocketed. Citizens, along with Mr. Gibbons, need to understand that running a municipality, school district or any other taxing entity requires periodic investment. If you do not take care of your investment, it deteriorates over time and loses value. Citizens living within that taxing entity will see their homes decrease in value. (Even faster than the recent slide)

When the potholes don’t get filled and the police can’t respond due to a lack of fuel, let’s see if the tax rollbacks were in the citizen’s best interest!

Davey Boy, the cost of everything goes up for everyone. That’s why state law permits a cost of living increase, plus additional revenue for new development. The only requirement is that for existing properties, reassessments must be revenue neutral overall, with the exception of the cost of living increase and new development.

If a city needs more money, they can put a tax increase on the ballot. Nobody proposes to change that. What Gibbons is trying to prevent is stealth tax increases by means of inflated reassessments.

PS - One thing I strongly object to is the idea that they’ll only provide tax reform for seniors. While seniors are on a “fixed income” many have substantial resources. My parents have WAY more money than I do, and of course, they are “empty nesters.” Those of us who are younger have mortgage payments in addition to property taxes, we face paying for our kids to go to college, and many other expenses. We need tax relief just as much as our parents do.

And thus continues Gibbons’ fundamental misunderstanding of property taxes. Take a finance class kid and come back when you can play the game.

Unfortunatly, the press will continue to cover his political and erroneous claims.