HISTORIC PROPERTY

EXEMPTIONS

—

MONUMENTS TO INFAMY

The chosen few owners receive the entitlement of a several year property tax abatement for rehabilitation. Nothing more than a scheme for some property owners to pay less than their fair share of property taxes. Annual local budgets perpetrate this fraud against the rest of the property taxpayers. The annual property exemption amounts are the amounts that are subtracted from property appraisal-assessment values prior to computing the property tax. For income producing properties, an additional 20% federal investment tax credit exists.

Many times, property appraisal-assessment values stay the same as or decline below the assessment year prior to the exemption period for these years.

Many times, no property taxes at all are paid for these years.

3 Exemptions for old buildings cause blight. New construction shuns the area.

3 Lost Annual Revenue from Historic Property Exemptions diverts tax revenues which would otherwise go to fund schools – in violation of most state constitutions.

3 Tax Increment Financing has been found to be unconstitutional by many state supreme courts because of this approach.

3 Under these decisions, it is opportune for every school district to file a lawsuit for damages against their state, all elected representatives that voted the state law into effect, and within the effected school taxing district, against all property owners that are taking an historic property exemption, political subdivisions that enacted these ordinances, elected representatives that voted these ordinances into effect, past and present historic preservation officers, historic landmarks commissioners, assessors and elected representatives that voted to place a property on the historic register.

3 Any school district that does not sue can be sued for not suing.

When some property owners do not pay their fair share of property taxes, everyone else has to pay more. If we continue to patronize these businesses, including business tenants, and continue to elect them to public office, maybe we are just plain fools.

3 One way we can control a government that has animosity toward rationale and integrity is to cut back on its revenue. Diminish your purchase of items that require payment of a sales tax. Do not buy lottery tickets.

3 Vote against every school levy until this matter is equitably adjudicated by your state supreme court.

3 APPEAL YOUR ASSESSED PROPERTY VALUE When you receive a revaluation notice, file an appeal.

HISTORIC PROPERTY EXEMPTIONS — MONUMENTS TO INFAMY

by Robert A. Kroboth www.citizengadfly.com

Please print and distribute copies of this publication and put this link on your web site.

www.citizengadfly.com/DOCS/N/N-HISTORIC.htm

Politicians carry with them

the dictum that we ordinary

citizens are not intelligent

enough – plain dumb may be a

better word – to see the real

truth in any proposition.