[Vision2020] taxes in Moscow

Tue, 16 Dec 2003 16:09:48 EST

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I received a private email from an elected official informing me that the 
trade off for the University in Moscow, providing numerous jobs, is that they are 
not required to pay property taxes and they own 25-30% of the land in Moscow. 
He then stated this is why our property taxes are so high which is to 
compensate for the University not paying taxes.

My opinion we need to stop counting student base in our census pool as 
permanent residents, for which they are not. Because of the count our water run off 
is putting us in a different category which will cost us millions to fix. As 
stated in prior notifications, the federal government gave us a pass this time. 
If we were working with a "true" population base this would not be of concern 
yet. Also, the true population base that is paying the property taxes were 
having to pay as though our population is 2 1/2 times larger than it already is. 
All this for a privilege of having a University in town? I don't see why the 
citizens of Moscow should be penalized and forced to pay higher taxes just for 
the privilege of having the University in town? I think this "burden" should 
be shared through the whole entire state as the student base comes from the 
whole state and beyond. The extra tax burden of educating the students children 
and they are living in University housing and not paying any tax, these bills 
come to roost on us "real" residents. Am I glad the University is here? You 
bet! Am I upset that the University pays no property taxes? No, I am not. I am 
upset that my elected officials think that it is a "privilege" that the 
University is here and that all of us citizens that pay taxes should just bend over 
and enjoy it. I think the state needs to Annie up it's fair share. The 
University needs to get out of the housing business. The housing business belongs to 
the entrepreneurs and capitalists. It has nothing to do with education. Just 
that alone would increase our tax base tremendously and we need to stop the 
University from buying from housing from the private sector and taking it off the 
tax rolls.

I need a politician who represents my views. Anyone out there?

Phil Roderick

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<HTML><HTML>I received a private email from an=20=
elected official informing me that the trade off for the University in Mosco=
w, providing numerous jobs, is that they are not required to pay property ta=
xes and they own 25-30% of the land in Moscow. He then stated this is why ou=
r property taxes are so high which is to compensate for the University not p=
aying taxes. 
 
My opinion we need to stop counting student base in our census pool as perma=
nent residents, for which they are not. Because of the count our water run o=
ff is putting us in a different category which will cost us millions to fix.=
 As stated in prior notifications, the federal government gave us a pass thi=
s time. If we were working with a "true" population base this would not be o=
f concern yet. Also, the true population base that is paying the property ta=
xes were having to pay as though our population is 2 1/2 times larger than i=
t already is. All this for a privilege of having a University in town? I don=
't see why the citizens of Moscow should be penalized and forced to pay high=
er taxes just for the privilege of having the University in town? I think th=
is "burden" should be shared through the whole entire state as the student b=
ase comes from the whole state and beyond. The extra tax burden of educating=
 the students children and they are living in University housing and not pay=
ing any tax, these bills come to roost on us "real" residents. Am I glad the=
 University is here? You bet! Am I upset that the University pays no propert=
y taxes? No, I am not. I am upset that my elected officials think that it is=
 a "privilege" that the University is here and that all of us citizens that=20=
pay taxes should just bend over and enjoy it. I think the state needs to Ann=
ie up it's fair share. The University needs to get out of the housing busine=
ss. The housing business belongs to the entrepreneurs and capitalists. It ha=
s nothing to do with education. Just that alone would increase our tax base=20=
tremendously and we need to stop the University from buying from housing fro=
m the private sector and taking it off the tax rolls. 
 
I need a politician who represents my views. Anyone out there? 
 
Phil Roderick</HTML>

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