Taxpayers can't afford any more new taxes

Stop — no more new taxes.The county promotes its detention center property tax as $46 per year for a resident with a $150,000 home using the homestead exemption. This, as usual, is only part of the story. What about the small business folks housed in older over-assessed properties? 

A case in point is the Hotel Hope building. In the past two years, the building assessment more than doubled resulting in a yearly property tax increase from approximately $2500 to $7500. The assessed value is now more than it’s projected new replacement cost.

This projected new tax would add another $450 yearly to the building’s already high tax bill. Consequently, our last tenant will vacate the building October 1st. When is this going to stop?

The real price paid by County residents is the loss of this historic building, which will permanently close to the public on Oct. 1. Other businesses will likely soon follow. Maybe the county could purchase one of these older buildings for the detention facility?  Much better than having them sit vacant!

WENDEL BERGMAN

Hope