[Vision2020] Rumor on property taxes

[Bev Bafus]

Question - is this property the newest section of Indian Hills, the one that
developers just developed within the last year?

If so, why do they think they can "have their cake and eat it, too"?

After going through the process of development, why should they be allowed
to revert to Ag status for property tax?

Just because the economy is down is no excuse, just my opinion.

Bev



  -----Original Message-----
  From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com
[mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]On Behalf Of Lynn McCollough
  Sent: Monday, May 11, 2009 2:43 PM
  To: vision2020 at moscow.com
  Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Vision2020 Digest, Vol 35, Issue 41


  As suggested, I telephoned the Assessor's office. The original rumor, #1
is true!
  For question #2 Can I have my taxes changed to ag, if I grow food, the
office asked if i primarily sold the food. So I asked if i sold tomatoes at
the Farmer's Market, and it was my only job, would they change my taxes, to
this the Office of the Assessor asked me if my land was greater than an
acre. Alas, my lot is not greater than one acre, but neither is the area in
question, Indian Hills 6th addition, it is not all contiguous lots, there
are some sold lots, as well as streets and sidewalks that break apart the
acreage.
  As for question # 3, The assessor does say they do consider current use,
not always the current zoning, for determining assessed tax rates.
  The Assessor's Office replied to me that they had not yet decided if they
would uphold this landowner's request. But they expect they might see an
appeal if they do not grant it.

  To which I replied: "Wow"

  "I like paying taxes. With them I buy civilization"- Justice Oliver
Wendell Holmes
  Lynn



  On Mon, May 11, 2009 at 12:00 PM, <vision2020-request at moscow.com> wrote:

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    Today's Topics:

      1. A rumor I have heard re. property taxes (Lynn McCollough)


    ----------------------------------------------------------------------

    Message: 1
    Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 08:58:53 -0700
    From: Lynn McCollough <lmccollough at gmail.com>
    Subject: [Vision2020] A rumor I have heard re. property taxes
    To: vision2020 at moscow.com
    Message-ID:
           <c92502e60905110858x2609cd51g37515a0e088a17b9 at mail.gmail.com>
    Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

    The rumor is:

    A local landowner is requesting that property they own (City lots in
Moscow)
    be taxed at the tax rate of ag land, because they have now spread wheat
    seeds on it.

    Their lots are zones in a variety of ways: for business use, r-4, r-3,
etc.
    With all utilities, sidewalks, street lights the taxpayers of Moscow
    operate, storm water drains in, etc. So, three questions.

    Does anyone know if this is true?

    Does this mean if I plant wheat grass in my lawn, show historical
picture
    documentation of my tomato plants and the herbs on my deck, etc. that my
    property (city lot) can pay the rate of ag taxes and not r-1?

    What is the history of land getting taxed, not as it's current zoning,
but
    as the current use?
    Thanks for your help with this. We all are looking for ways to tighten
our
    belts around here. This might be a big Yippee!!! for everyone with a
garden.
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