Thanks to our friend at the Standard, Charles Trentleman, for his article this morning entitled "Taxes revolting? Actually, some of us are quite happy." Charlie has long been a friend of us up here in Ogden's Hole and we are hopeful he is creating a Top of Utah - wide public awareness of our dire tax situation.
As he so eloquently illustrates in his cover story, "Taxes Through the Roof," the problem extends well beyond Ogden Valley and its overinflated (and possibly illegal) property assessments.
We also read a riveting letter to the editor from Eden's own Shanna Francis (Ogden Valley News Fame) chiding our arrogant, developer friendly Commissioner Ken Bischoff for his inappropriate conduct during a recent Commission meeting.
Yes, the same commissioner whose son recently received an unprecedented variance for his non conforming Ogden Canyon lots that were previously deemed unbuildable. The same commissioner whose campaign signs were plastered at Ski Lake Village last year. The same commissioner who will not respond to queries or suggestions from his constituents. The same commissioner who refused to sign an ethics pledge.
One of our humble readers tipped us off last November during Bischoff's reelection campaign, but it apparently was too little, too late. January 2011 is a long time, but it looks like we are stuck with him until then.
Click "__ Comments" below - the forum is yours, Ogden Valley. Blog on!
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Property Taxes, Balloon Fest and More...
Updated 8-19-07 at 11 am
From today's Standard we read about our local State Rep. Gage's plan for a property tax rebate. Our readers already knew of his efforts as we were first to break the story yesterday. We appreciate his efforts and are cautiously optimistic that this will be at least a good place to start for tax reform.
Also, Huntsville resident D-Bell continues to research tax inequities and has suggested a class action lawsuit against the County Commissioners and Assessors. After the Wednesday meeting, there was some wrangling of local attorney's who also had the same suggestion. Would you be willing to pitch in for the fight? 100 residents X $100 would go a long way towards a legal fight.
As an aside, here is some information about California's Proposition 13. Huntsville's own Larry Zini also posted "Proposition 13 - Pros and Cons" recently.
And lastly, from the Standard we read about the weather hampering our infamous balloon fest. Sadly, the balloon fest seems to have become just another event to exploit our pristine valley in order to sell lodging and real estate. Wolf Creek's Nancy Seraphin states, “This is the biggest weekend of the summer for our rental and lodging properties,” she said. “The majority of our overnight visitors come in the winter to ski, so this is a nice boost.”
Enjoy your slow and scenic drive down the canyon today, and leave early.
UPDATE 8-18-07 @ 3:45 PM: Thanks to our friends at the Weber County Forum for their sympathy to our cause. We were their top story today. Rudi and Company happen to have the most read forum in Northern Utah.
From today's Standard we read about our local State Rep. Gage's plan for a property tax rebate. Our readers already knew of his efforts as we were first to break the story yesterday. We appreciate his efforts and are cautiously optimistic that this will be at least a good place to start for tax reform.
Also, Huntsville resident D-Bell continues to research tax inequities and has suggested a class action lawsuit against the County Commissioners and Assessors. After the Wednesday meeting, there was some wrangling of local attorney's who also had the same suggestion. Would you be willing to pitch in for the fight? 100 residents X $100 would go a long way towards a legal fight.
As an aside, here is some information about California's Proposition 13. Huntsville's own Larry Zini also posted "Proposition 13 - Pros and Cons" recently.
And lastly, from the Standard we read about the weather hampering our infamous balloon fest. Sadly, the balloon fest seems to have become just another event to exploit our pristine valley in order to sell lodging and real estate. Wolf Creek's Nancy Seraphin states, “This is the biggest weekend of the summer for our rental and lodging properties,” she said. “The majority of our overnight visitors come in the winter to ski, so this is a nice boost.”
Enjoy your slow and scenic drive down the canyon today, and leave early.
UPDATE 8-18-07 @ 3:45 PM: Thanks to our friends at the Weber County Forum for their sympathy to our cause. We were their top story today. Rudi and Company happen to have the most read forum in Northern Utah.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Ogden Valley's Tax Revolt and Press Release Form Representative Gage Froerer
UPDATE 8-18-07 (5 am): The Weber Basin Water Conservancy asks for large tax increase - meeting Monday.
From Today's Standard, we read Jamie Lampros' Article about our infamous meeting Wednesday night - or the precursor to Ogden Valley's Tea Party.
Davis County is having their own revolt, although their increases pale in comparison to ours.
Comments? Click on the link below and OPINE!
We just received this from Representative Froerer's Office this morning:
August 17, 2007
State Representative Gage Froerer has asked for a special meeting with the Weber County Commission and the Weber County School District to discuss a property tax rebate in Weber County. Froerer is asking for a rebate of taxes to all owners that had property value increase over 25%.
A rebate this year would help those hit hard by the huge increase in value this year and give us the opportunity to correct the problem on a permanent basis at the State level.
From Today's Standard, we read Jamie Lampros' Article about our infamous meeting Wednesday night - or the precursor to Ogden Valley's Tea Party.
Davis County is having their own revolt, although their increases pale in comparison to ours.
Comments? Click on the link below and OPINE!
We just received this from Representative Froerer's Office this morning:
August 17, 2007
State Representative Gage Froerer has asked for a special meeting with the Weber County Commission and the Weber County School District to discuss a property tax rebate in Weber County. Froerer is asking for a rebate of taxes to all owners that had property value increase over 25%.
A rebate this year would help those hit hard by the huge increase in value this year and give us the opportunity to correct the problem on a permanent basis at the State level.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Proposition 13 - Pros and Cons
My wife and I lived in California in the late 1970s when Proposition 13 was created and passed by a state wide voter initiative. It was opposed by most state legislators along with most County and City governments. What follows is our personal view on the effects of Propsition 13 over the last 28 years in California.
The supporters of the Jarvis-Gann initiative (prop.13) were realtors and a majority of the state’s property owners.
Prop 13 was attractive to many since it promised to cap property taxes that were increasing at an unprecedented rate. Many older and retired homeowners were being forced to sell their homes because they could not afford the ever growing property tax bite.
What was not apparent during the campaign to pass Prop. 13 were some unintended consequences that would follow this major tax code change.
The opposition forces to Prop. 13 were the Police, Fire and other County or municipal leaders that were threatened by a possible reduction in tax funding for their services impacted by a fast growing state population.
Prop. 13 succeeded in California because of the high mobility of many of its residents. California residents move around or upgrade their home status at a very high rate. This activity is an important ingredient for tax based services under Prop 13.
Positive results of Prop. 13 in California:
A cap on your property taxes at the existing level. Minor increases in the future taxes as long as you remained in your
present home.
The sale of homes around you had no negative influence on
your property taxes as long as you remained in your existing home. This protected older and retired property owners from continuing increases in taxes.
Implementation of Prop. 13 in California prodded State and local governments to initiate tax programs such as impact fees and other bond based taxes that directly taxed only the new property owners for some government services.
Unintended Consequences of Prop. 13 in California:
Inequities in property taxes on identical or similar homes.
If you and your neighbors had similar homes and property taxes, those that remained in their existing homes saw almost no increase in property taxes. However, those that wanted to upgrade their lifestyle and sold to buy a larger home in the state, paid property taxes at 1.27% of the purchase price of their new home. The appraised value was adjusted to the price of the purchased home. This tax rate is also applied to the property tax amount on new construction.
As a result of these tax changes, similar houses next to each other may have a large disparity in property taxes depending on how many times one house sold. This may negatively impact the ability of a homeowner to sell the higher taxed home in the future.
Utah is growing very quickly, but most Utah residents are less mobile and stay put in their existing homes. This could cause a tax revenue shortfall due to a statewide Prop. 13, thus creating serious tax based funding problems for those services such as Police and Fire, as well as many other City, County, and State services.
Prop.13 did not result in serious tax shortfall problems in California because of the never ending movement of homeowners and new construction. However, it may be something to consider when we consider a similar tax option in Utah.
For many property owners in California, the overall posititve effect of Prop. 13 was that it forced the tax supported entities at all levels to start implementing fiscal responsibility (living within a budget) instead of having open access to the taxpayers checkbook.
Larry and Sharon Zini
Huntsville
The supporters of the Jarvis-Gann initiative (prop.13) were realtors and a majority of the state’s property owners.
Prop 13 was attractive to many since it promised to cap property taxes that were increasing at an unprecedented rate. Many older and retired homeowners were being forced to sell their homes because they could not afford the ever growing property tax bite.
What was not apparent during the campaign to pass Prop. 13 were some unintended consequences that would follow this major tax code change.
The opposition forces to Prop. 13 were the Police, Fire and other County or municipal leaders that were threatened by a possible reduction in tax funding for their services impacted by a fast growing state population.
Prop. 13 succeeded in California because of the high mobility of many of its residents. California residents move around or upgrade their home status at a very high rate. This activity is an important ingredient for tax based services under Prop 13.
Positive results of Prop. 13 in California:
A cap on your property taxes at the existing level. Minor increases in the future taxes as long as you remained in your
present home.
The sale of homes around you had no negative influence on
your property taxes as long as you remained in your existing home. This protected older and retired property owners from continuing increases in taxes.
Implementation of Prop. 13 in California prodded State and local governments to initiate tax programs such as impact fees and other bond based taxes that directly taxed only the new property owners for some government services.
Unintended Consequences of Prop. 13 in California:
Inequities in property taxes on identical or similar homes.
If you and your neighbors had similar homes and property taxes, those that remained in their existing homes saw almost no increase in property taxes. However, those that wanted to upgrade their lifestyle and sold to buy a larger home in the state, paid property taxes at 1.27% of the purchase price of their new home. The appraised value was adjusted to the price of the purchased home. This tax rate is also applied to the property tax amount on new construction.
As a result of these tax changes, similar houses next to each other may have a large disparity in property taxes depending on how many times one house sold. This may negatively impact the ability of a homeowner to sell the higher taxed home in the future.
Utah is growing very quickly, but most Utah residents are less mobile and stay put in their existing homes. This could cause a tax revenue shortfall due to a statewide Prop. 13, thus creating serious tax based funding problems for those services such as Police and Fire, as well as many other City, County, and State services.
Prop.13 did not result in serious tax shortfall problems in California because of the never ending movement of homeowners and new construction. However, it may be something to consider when we consider a similar tax option in Utah.
For many property owners in California, the overall posititve effect of Prop. 13 was that it forced the tax supported entities at all levels to start implementing fiscal responsibility (living within a budget) instead of having open access to the taxpayers checkbook.
Larry and Sharon Zini
Huntsville
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
TAX REVOLT IN THE MAKING!
Ogden Valley spoke loud tonight during the Property Tax Revolt and time will tell how clear we spoke. We told our elected officials we don't care how we got here, but how do we repair it.
This will be a constantly changing situation, so check back often for updates and feel free to post your comments by clicking the "comments" below.
Also, sign up for our email list which is located below to be kept up to date on breaking events.
In the mean time, here is some information about California's Proposition 13.
This will be a constantly changing situation, so check back often for updates and feel free to post your comments by clicking the "comments" below.
Also, sign up for our email list which is located below to be kept up to date on breaking events.
In the mean time, here is some information about California's Proposition 13.
Upon signing up, you will receive an email that contains a link. Click on the link to complete the "Double Opt in" sign up process. (The email may end up in your Junk or Spam mail)
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Property Tax Informational Meeting This Wednesday / Huntsville Town No. 1 in the Nation For Property Value Increase
UPDATE 8-15-07 Click here to read an article from the Davis Clipper Entitled "Tax Revolt," along with a synopsis by D-Bell
Ogden Valley Property Tax Petition
Huntsville Property Tax Petition (Huntsville Residents Please Sign Both Petitions)
An informational meeting will be held:
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
6:00 PM
Snowcrest Junior High School, Eden, UT
Among those scheduled to be in attendance and available for comments will be County Assessor Cheryl Madson, County Commissioner Craig Deardon and State Representative Gage Froerer.
We recommend you:
Ogden Valley Property Tax Petition
Huntsville Property Tax Petition (Huntsville Residents Please Sign Both Petitions)
Update 8-9-07: You may remember a significant tax increase last year as well. Click here to read an archived posting from the Ogden Valley Forum
Ogden Valley Property Tax Petition
Huntsville Property Tax Petition (Huntsville Residents Please Sign Both Petitions)
An informational meeting will be held:
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
6:00 PM
Snowcrest Junior High School, Eden, UT
Among those scheduled to be in attendance and available for comments will be County Assessor Cheryl Madson, County Commissioner Craig Deardon and State Representative Gage Froerer.
We recommend you:
- Sign the property tax reassessment petitions which are located on this site - Huntsville Residents please sign both petitions
- Bring your "Property Valuation Notice" to the meeting. Some have suggested a "burning of the Valuations" or a Boston Tea Party reenactment, although we won't sanction that extreme - yet. (We are making copies of our notices just in case, however).
- Read the Standard Examiner article written by Gage Froerer
- Read "D's Tax Facts" written by Huntsville resident D-Bell where you can read about Huntsville's 116.45% increase in property values.
- Read an archive post for the Ogden Valley Forum
- Call 801-476-4216 to get a list of realtors who will provide you with a Certified Market Analysis
- Bring your market analysis to the meeting if you have it
Ogden Valley Property Tax Petition
Huntsville Property Tax Petition (Huntsville Residents Please Sign Both Petitions)
Update 8-9-07: You may remember a significant tax increase last year as well. Click here to read an archived posting from the Ogden Valley Forum
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Property Tax Petitions
Update 8-10-07: We have added a link to a detailed briefing on Property tax specifics by Huntsville resident D-Bell
as well as a link to a Standard Examiner Guest Commentary by State Rep and Huntsville resident Gage Froerer.
Update 8-9-07: You may remember a significant tax increase last year as well. Click here to read an archived posting from the Ogden Valley Forum
We have also added one click button links to the Property Tax Petitions mentioned below:
Ogden Valley Property Tax Petition
Huntsville Property Tax Petition (Huntsville Residents Please Sign Both Petitions)
Ogden Valley Residents,
Huntsville Resident D-Bell has been doing extensive research on all of our behalfs with regard to the Outrageous Property tax issue.
He has been compiling substantial information which will benefit anyone and everyone who wishes to challenge their property tax evaluation. Additionally, he has created a petition which was originally planned for Huntsville Town residents, but has been expanded to all Valley residents to create a louder, and hopefully more effective voice.
Click link above to view D-Bell's briefing
For residents of Huntsville, please sign both petitions as we are all Ogden Valley residents.
The Huntsville Town Web site, www.HuntsvilleTown.com has a "Property Tax" page with informative information listed, and it will be updated frequently over the next couple of weeks.
We will also try to post the updates on this forum.
Sincerely,
Richard L. Sorensen
Huntsville
as well as a link to a Standard Examiner Guest Commentary by State Rep and Huntsville resident Gage Froerer.
Update 8-9-07: You may remember a significant tax increase last year as well. Click here to read an archived posting from the Ogden Valley Forum
We have also added one click button links to the Property Tax Petitions mentioned below:
Ogden Valley Property Tax Petition
Huntsville Property Tax Petition (Huntsville Residents Please Sign Both Petitions)
Ogden Valley Residents,
Huntsville Resident D-Bell has been doing extensive research on all of our behalfs with regard to the Outrageous Property tax issue.
He has been compiling substantial information which will benefit anyone and everyone who wishes to challenge their property tax evaluation. Additionally, he has created a petition which was originally planned for Huntsville Town residents, but has been expanded to all Valley residents to create a louder, and hopefully more effective voice.
Click link above to view D-Bell's briefing
For residents of Huntsville, please sign both petitions as we are all Ogden Valley residents.
The Huntsville Town Web site, www.HuntsvilleTown.com has a "Property Tax" page with informative information listed, and it will be updated frequently over the next couple of weeks.
We will also try to post the updates on this forum.
Sincerely,
Richard L. Sorensen
Huntsville
Letter to Managing Editor of Standard Examiner
Subject: The Examiner Story on the Weber County Commission Meeting, Aug. 7,2007
Andy, I was disappointed in the story written by Jamie Lampros. I agree that citizens should not try to manage a story like this, but when there is an obvious lack of research and many basic facts are missing or in error in the story, it demonstrates that some reporters may do a questionable job.
The problem starts with the headline. It is obvious that this reporter did very little research into the issue, and did not research several major facts. If your reporter would have demonstrated the basic investigator's skills, these facts would have been in the story.
"Summers won't pursue approval for rock crushing" is inaccurate. Click here to read more...
Andy, I was disappointed in the story written by Jamie Lampros. I agree that citizens should not try to manage a story like this, but when there is an obvious lack of research and many basic facts are missing or in error in the story, it demonstrates that some reporters may do a questionable job.
The problem starts with the headline. It is obvious that this reporter did very little research into the issue, and did not research several major facts. If your reporter would have demonstrated the basic investigator's skills, these facts would have been in the story.
"Summers won't pursue approval for rock crushing" is inaccurate. Click here to read more...
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
PROPERTY TAXES - WHAT MORE CAN WE SAY?
Check back for a petition and information on appealing your tax.
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Rock Crusher Denied!
Tonight, the MV-2 Ordinance for heavy manufacturing was denied 3-0 by the Weber County Commission!
The second MV-1 small cement batch plant was approved for conditional use pending restrictions that are to be written. The vote was 2-1 for approval.
Commissioner Dearden voted against both petitions.
Thank you to all of you that worked so hard to defeat the MV-2 Rock Crusher. We are going to examine the conditional use provisions for the cement batch plant to insure that it will stay a small customer oriented batch plant.
I counted 104 people in the room at the meeting tonight. Congratulations!
Larry Zini
VCRD Acting Chairman
The second MV-1 small cement batch plant was approved for conditional use pending restrictions that are to be written. The vote was 2-1 for approval.
Commissioner Dearden voted against both petitions.
Thank you to all of you that worked so hard to defeat the MV-2 Rock Crusher. We are going to examine the conditional use provisions for the cement batch plant to insure that it will stay a small customer oriented batch plant.
I counted 104 people in the room at the meeting tonight. Congratulations!
Larry Zini
VCRD Acting Chairman
Friday, August 03, 2007
Rock Crushing/Cement Plant Alert
UPDATE: 8-2-07
The MV-1 and MV-2 ordinances are available at the bottom of this post.
Update 8-3-07
Valley residents, just a heads up, the Weber County Commission has scheduled a hearing on the approval request for the Rock Crushing/Cement Plant for August 7th at 6 PM. It was in the Standard Examiner, Top Of Utah section under Agendas today.
This means we all need to get the word out again to our residents to write to the Weber County Commissioners (not the Ogden Valley Planning Commission) to express our opposition, and the sooner the better. See below for communication information.
Make sure you follow the format below to insure your e-mail's, written letters, or phone calls are not rejected. Also have them include the Zoning petition numbers of ZP 05-07 and ZP 06-07 in the e-mail's and letters.
Weber County Commission
When contacting the Weber County Commissioners and their clerk, please reference the petition numbers, for example (Zoning petition numbers.) if available.
Weber County Commissioners and Clerk e-mail addresses:
Bischoff,Ken 801-399-8401 kbischof@co.weber.ut.us
Dearden,Craig 801-399-8401 cdearden@co.weber.ut.us
Zogmaister, Jan 801-399-8401 jzogmaister@co.weber.ut.us
Halacy, Shelly (clerk) 801-399-8401 shalacy@co.weber.ut.us
Remember to include your Name, and Address so they know who you are and to eliminate the possibility that your e-mail would be discarded.
Telephone: 801-399-8401 will reach the clerk & Commissioners on the Weber County Commission
Regular Mail:
Mail your comments to the Weber County Commission Office, 2380 Washington Blvd., Suite 240 Ogden, UT 84401
Your VCRD
Click here to read a previous post
OGDEN VALLEY MANUFACTURING ZONE MV-1 ORDINANCE
OGDEN VALLEY MANUFACTURING ZONE MV-2 ORDINANCE
Ogden Valley Residents Opposition To Rock Crusher / Cement Plant Petition - deadline August 3, 2007
The MV-1 and MV-2 ordinances are available at the bottom of this post.
Be sure to take the poll that is located on the right column (scroll down)
Update 8-3-07
Scroll Down to next post to Read a letter from Petitioner Thom Summers of S & S Construction
Valley residents, just a heads up, the Weber County Commission has scheduled a hearing on the approval request for the Rock Crushing/Cement Plant for August 7th at 6 PM. It was in the Standard Examiner, Top Of Utah section under Agendas today.
This means we all need to get the word out again to our residents to write to the Weber County Commissioners (not the Ogden Valley Planning Commission) to express our opposition, and the sooner the better. See below for communication information.
Make sure you follow the format below to insure your e-mail's, written letters, or phone calls are not rejected. Also have them include the Zoning petition numbers of ZP 05-07 and ZP 06-07 in the e-mail's and letters.
Weber County Commission
When contacting the Weber County Commissioners and their clerk, please reference the petition numbers, for example (Zoning petition numbers.) if available.
Weber County Commissioners and Clerk e-mail addresses:
Bischoff,Ken 801-399-8401 kbischof@co.weber.ut.us
Dearden,Craig 801-399-8401 cdearden@co.weber.ut.us
Zogmaister, Jan 801-399-8401 jzogmaister@co.weber.ut.us
Halacy, Shelly (clerk) 801-399-8401 shalacy@co.weber.ut.us
Remember to include your Name, and Address so they know who you are and to eliminate the possibility that your e-mail would be discarded.
Telephone: 801-399-8401 will reach the clerk & Commissioners on the Weber County Commission
Regular Mail:
Mail your comments to the Weber County Commission Office, 2380 Washington Blvd., Suite 240 Ogden, UT 84401
Your VCRD
Click here to read a previous post
OGDEN VALLEY MANUFACTURING ZONE MV-1 ORDINANCE
OGDEN VALLEY MANUFACTURING ZONE MV-2 ORDINANCE
Ogden Valley Residents Opposition To Rock Crusher / Cement Plant Petition - deadline August 3, 2007
Thom Summers Speaks about his Rock Crusher Business
Thom Summers sent the document below to provide his point of view on why his Business should be located in the Ogden Valley. His document has not been edited or changed in any way. - The VCRD Staff
To the Concerned Citizens of Ogden Valley:
Many rumors have been circulating the Valley about the PROPOSED rock crusher/cement plant. We would like correct the rumors and state the facts.
The rock crusher would be used to... click here to read more...
To the Concerned Citizens of Ogden Valley:
Many rumors have been circulating the Valley about the PROPOSED rock crusher/cement plant. We would like correct the rumors and state the facts.
The rock crusher would be used to... click here to read more...
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