Comments on: California To Delay Tax Refunds Due To Budget Crunch.

By: Unemployed WASP

Unemployed WASP — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 05:44:03 +0000

The bow is breaking and the ship is sinking. Still nobody lifts a finger to deal with the real problem: immigration. All kinds. Chain migration, illegal and legal immigration, taxes going up, taxpayers leaving the state, etc…

http://paleoconservatist.blogspot.com/2008/05/solving-californias-budget-crisis.html

By: Jen

Jen — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:49:47 +0000

Hi David! Sorry! I followed the link on my phone and because your colors are similar to Madison’s, I got confused. I love your site too – although when I try to follow on my phone by typing in the url, it brings me back to the same 1,019 Ways to Save Money article. That’s ok though!

Yeah, I get jealous when I read the PF blogs about $100k – $200k mortgages! And especially living in San Francisco, which is a bubble upon itself. My grandma bought her house for $78k – in 1978!

Would that be awesome if they could reset the housing market?!?

I’m looking to go into nursing and I’m [] this close to moving out of the Bay Area – apparently there is no nursing shortage in CA as everyone comes to the state of milk and honey for $40/hr.

Thanks for the blog!

By: david

david — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 13:58:47 +0000

Hi Jen – This is David’s site, not Madisons My Dollar Plan. Also, it works almost everywhere else; it’s just that CA’s housing is absurd. It’s just structured incorrectly in CA, as my mom’s taxes go up every year, but her house doesnt double in value every 5 or 10 like McMansions in CA do, so she doesn’t get forced out of her house. If housing prices were stable in CA and houses actually cost what they were worth, there would not be an issue with having a normal tax structure that helps pay for the budget, schools, roads, etc.

By: Jen

Jen — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 05:41:09 +0000

Hi Madison, I love your site! I live in CA (goodness, I live in San Francisco!) and I’m bummed about the IOU’s. I guess I’m living in denial these days and hope that Sacramento will get their act together.

But I just wanted to share why Prop 13 is still around. It was initially set up so that the elderly, on their set incomes via pension or Social Security, wouldn’t have the burden of paying higher taxes each year as their house appreciated. Can you imagine you’re 80 years old with a $50,000 tax bill? I’m not sure how they do it in other states so please enlighten me. Arnold will be getting a letter from me if it’s working elsewhere. LOL!

I worked for a title company and the county only allows a onetime transfer from parent to child to keep the property tax so low. Eventually, the houses will be reassessed.

By: cwaltz

cwaltz — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:30:27 +0000

Chris,

Let me guess? Migration troubles and say it ain’t so. I hear that living next to another country means absolutely diddly and gives one no authority on the subject of said country. At least that was what I heard during the GE. Of course that could have been becaused Katie got her panties in a twist after Sarah took her ego down a notch.

By: chris

chris — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:01:23 +0000

We bought our house in CA when prices were low, however we still consider the price high. Our taxes go up 2% every year regardless. We pay about $2700.00 property tax, which is ENOUGH!!! Or should I say more than enough. When the market was busy, our neighbors considered moving to a larger home to better suit their family and work needs. They looked into a house with one more bedroom and bath. The property taxes on that house, during that market would have been $1000.00 a month, on top of the house payment. Now, who, please tell me, could afford that cost in property tax? No one I know. The neighbors across the street purchased a few years ago and paid about $300,000.00 more for their house than we did. I imagine their taxes are around $5,000.00 a year – that is insanity. Plus, we sure don’t get our money’s worth from it. No, I would say we pay enough – too much in property taxes out here in CA. I could go into some of the reasons CA has money trouble and it DOES have to do with spending, however my views are conservative in nature and would draw ire.

By: david

david — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 06:29:35 +0000

I know, I lived in Los Angeles for about 15 years. It is expensive, but $500K IS inexpensive when compared to most houses throughout CA.

By: cwaltz

cwaltz — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 06:20:53 +0000

There are reasonably priced houses in California? Last time I heard 3 bedroom houses with a small yard were running half a million. I lived in California while in the Navy for my last 6 years in the military. It was an incredibly expensive place to live. Electricity was through the roof(and it didn’t help that California didn’t want utility towers to unpristine the state), Motor Vehicle fees were also obscene(we weren’t officially residents so we managed to get past on that one too). The only things it had going for it was carne asada burritos, incredibly mild winters, and alot of stuff to do.

By: david

david — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 05:49:51 +0000

Property taxes can be low, if the government uses their money effectively. Too bad CA is so good at wasting what they do have!

By: TStrump

TStrump — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 05:18:01 +0000

Wow – I’ve never heard of such a thing.
Can’t say that this has ever happened here in Canada.
Our property taxes are quite low, too, but they just go out and borrow more money!