The Seattle Times has collected hundreds of reader responses to the tax hike. Many who said they’re retired or disabled, and living on fixed incomes, offered emotional stories of being unable to afford the heftier rate.
Dennis Hall imagined living his whole life in the country-style home he and his wife built in Kirkland for $55,000 in 1980.
But the couple, now retirees on a fixed income, say the latest tax bill for their property — valued at $1.2 million — is forcing them to rethink their golden years, sell the beloved home and move.
“This year was the breaking point. Enough is enough,” said Hall, 65, thinking about the big tax increase, a reflection of skyrocketing home values, voter-approved levies and a plan by state lawmakers to fully fund public schools. “We were hoping on dying here.”
With this round of property-tax notices, the couple are not alone in their worries. As the effects of the higher rates spread statewide, some homeowners are calling the tax increase a tipping point in a period of financial stress that’s forcing too-soon goodbyes to longtime homes.
Over the course of weeks, The Seattle Times collected hundreds of emails, phone calls and responses on social media from people like Hall, many of whom identified as retired or disabled, saying they have limited options for paying the heftier amounts.
“Should anything happen to me like an illness or injury, I will be homeless pretty quick,” wrote a 61-year-old homeowner in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood.
“There is no way I can make it; have to sell our home,” another person said in a voicemail. “I don’t know what to say or do.”
The property-tax increases vary greatly from city to city.
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DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
5 comments:
Cities don't care if people move out as long as new people move in, especially if they are young. They don't even worry when they become Baltimore and lose almost half there population over a 50 year period.
This is an irresponsible and reprehensible act by the government. People bought and paid for their land and homes, yet they have becomes renters from the state due to tax increases. States use taxes to fund far beyond essential services. Fire services, once provided by volunteers are now paid machines with palaces as stations. They protect insurance companies and build little empires under this model more than they protect our assets. Ambulance should support itself...paid for by users. Police, water, sewer, and infrastructure such as streets and curbs are about the only things that should be supported by all tax payers. Seniors shouldn’t be paying school levies, nor should those who opt out of the public school system. This is a way to push older Americans out of their homes to make room for high wage earners even though we’ve worked hard to earn what we have.
Why would you want to move from that liberal hell hole you all created.
7:12 right you are to bad you are preaching to the choir.
What else can they do?
They are all broke.
They MUST raise fees, fines, surcharges, levies, and taxes.
AND do everything they can to disarm us.
You kept cheering for every slimy politician lining his pocket and passing out no bid deals to his family.
AND every politician coming up with new programs and benefits for people who shouldn't be here.
Programs for "we, the people"?
Nope.
All "we, the people" get to do is PAY for that BS and its already out of control.
BUY GUNS AND AMMO. Make sure they are close to you and loaded.
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