I appreciate the great job Marty Haynes has done for Hamilton County. However, I disagree with his two-year reappraisal proposal.
This county has seen continued growth in residential building. As each of those parcels is sold and registered, the Assessor's office calculates, applies and collects the appropriate taxes. Therefore, as soon as those parcels go on the taxable rolls they begin generating income for Hamilton County.
I do not understand the rationale that taxes are missed by the four-year appraisal cycle. What I do understand is that a two-year cycle will place additional financial burden on senior citizens who do not quality for any tax break considerations.
Everyone is harmed by inflation – especially those of us who are retirees on a fixed income. Inflation such as we have seen recently, and the influx of new residents seeking the more affordable living standard and sanity of our Tennessee political and economic policies, has driven up the cost of housing in our county. A two-year appraisal will further increase our cost.
The current political stance and policies enacted by Washington, D.C. has fueled inflation by their outrageous deficit spending. This translates to false value as homes are bought and sold. Everyone knows the residential market pricing fluctuates – a change in presidential leadership along with new policies can curb the meteoric inflation.
It is my hope that Mr. Haynes is not trying to capture and lock in additional taxation before the presidential election changes the economy. If this two-year cycle is enacted it will never change. I strongly urge every Hamilton County property owner to contact your commissioner and voice your opinion. I dare say few (if any) taxpaying citizens will support a two-year cycle.
Want more tax revenue? Stop giving those horrendous tax breaks to big businesses – rethink the approach. Do more to encourage small locally owned and operated businesses. They live here - give them a tax break on their homes and businesses.
Please realize the more taxes they collect the more they will spend – it is a vicious cycle.
Tom Wheatley
Soddy Daisy