Taxes are unfair

The gleeful, almost salivationous anticipation of Democrat Commissioner Todd Crossett to raise property taxes is too typical of those who should be voted out. Placing impact fees on purchasers of new lots is a delightful method liberals use to geometrically increase homeowners' tax burden. The market value of existing homes always follows new construction. It is the combination of new housing cost and scarcity that drives the market value (read taxable value) of our homes.

When Todd Crossett joyeously levies heavy impact taxes on new lots, he increases the cost/value of any home on that lot, which means the new owner will then pay increased property tax on Todd Crossett's other increased property tax.

But wait. We all get to share. As new construction costs go up with Todd Crossett's new taxes, existing values get dragged up with them. We all get to pay.

Though Todd Crossett rooting for us to pay taxes upon our taxes is irritating enough, even that pales by the hypocrisy of some commissioners in giving lip service to the concept of “affordable” housing in Bonner County while blatantly taxing up its cost.

TERRY LAMB

Sagle