As suggested, I telephoned the Assessor's office. The original rumor, #1 is true!<br>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.<br>
As for question # 3, The assessor does say they do consider current use, not always the current zoning, for determining assessed tax rates.<br>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.<br>
<br>To which I replied: "Wow"<br><br>"I like paying taxes. With them I buy civilization"- Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes<br>Lynn<br><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, May 11, 2009 at 12:00 PM, <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:vision2020-request@moscow.com">vision2020-request@moscow.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
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Today's Topics:<br>
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1. A rumor I have heard re. property taxes (Lynn McCollough)<br>
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Message: 1<br>
Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 08:58:53 -0700<br>
From: Lynn McCollough <<a href="mailto:lmccollough@gmail.com">lmccollough@gmail.com</a>><br>
Subject: [Vision2020] A rumor I have heard re. property taxes<br>
To: <a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</a><br>
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<<a href="mailto:c92502e60905110858x2609cd51g37515a0e088a17b9@mail.gmail.com">c92502e60905110858x2609cd51g37515a0e088a17b9@mail.gmail.com</a>><br>
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<br>
The rumor is:<br>
<br>
A local landowner is requesting that property they own (City lots in Moscow)<br>
be taxed at the tax rate of ag land, because they have now spread wheat<br>
seeds on it.<br>
<br>
Their lots are zones in a variety of ways: for business use, r-4, r-3, etc.<br>
With all utilities, sidewalks, street lights the taxpayers of Moscow<br>
operate, storm water drains in, etc. So, three questions.<br>
<br>
Does anyone know if this is true?<br>
<br>
Does this mean if I plant wheat grass in my lawn, show historical picture<br>
documentation of my tomato plants and the herbs on my deck, etc. that my<br>
property (city lot) can pay the rate of ag taxes and not r-1?<br>
<br>
What is the history of land getting taxed, not as it's current zoning, but<br>
as the current use?<br>
Thanks for your help with this. We all are looking for ways to tighten our<br>
belts around here. This might be a big Yippee!!! for everyone with a garden.<br>
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