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Property Taxes: What does your county do with them?
from: Andy AndersohnWhat Are Your County Property Taxes Used For?
In many areas of the country, when you get your bill for county property taxes, be prepared for a shock. They are at an all time high across the country, though the overall amounts can vary greatly depending where you live.
On top of all the other taxes that we pay, what are county property taxes used for? The individual tax rate varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Also varying is as how the assessed valuation of the property is calculated on which they base the property tax. Here are the most popular uses for the high county property taxes that you are paying (and just because they are “popular” today might mean the politicians might uncover some other popular cause to fund).
• Schools Systems – In many areas of the country, more than half of each dollar you pay in county property taxes is used to fund your local school district. In most states, the largest funding school districts receive is through local property taxes. These taxes help maintain school buildings and buses, pay teacher and administrative salaries and buy books.
• Roads and Bridges- City and county property taxes are used extensively to keep roads in good working order. They remove the snow in winter, cut grass in the right of way, clear out overhanging branches and trees and make minor road and bridge repairs.
• Police and Fire Services – In most cases, your local police and sheriff’s departments as well as your local fire departments are funded by city and county property taxes. Your taxes support the buildings, vehicles and salaries of our policemen and firefighters.
• Public Libraries – Libraries are typically run by the county, so county property taxes provide their funding. Everything from building maintenance and staff salaries to purchasing new books is primarily funded through taxpayers.
• Hospitals – In some parts of the country, local hospitals receive some funding from local taxpayers. These funds are usually provided to ensure that hospitals in financial trouble don’t have to close. It is in the public’s best interest to have a hospital right in the community, so taxpayers often bear some of the financial burden of keeping the hospital afloat.
• County Government – And, of course, your county taxes fund your local county government to collect the taxes, provide the county court system, provide office space and pay salaries.
In some areas, a portion of your local city and county property taxes may also be given to the state. In most cases, however, at least 90% of the property taxes you pay stay right in your local community. When states take part of the revenue, it is usually a relatively small amount.
It is said that people complain more about their property taxes than any other taxes they pay. However, for the most part these taxes stay in the local communities. They fund the education of the children and pay for police and fire protection. So, while it is your civic duty to keep watch on how your tax dollars are spent and calculated and to speak up about unnecessary spending, local property taxes compared to other taxes tend to stay in the local community and their benefits are most visible. Further, it’s not a big stretch to demonstrate the direct benefit to the property owner.
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