Some Maine wharf shouldn't be twice the price.


Roger Long wrote:
No such thing as "some Maine wharf". That Maine disappeared when most
boat were built out of wood. The law was just changed to fix the
problem but it hasn't yet been implemented. Every Maine wharf and
shoreline is currently taxed as if it had condos or a waterfront
mansion on it.

Do you mean that the tax laws have changed so as to reflect
property usage? That is wise and we are trying to get such
laws passed here, otherwise there are no brakes on the
condo-ification of pretty much all desirable real estate in
the country.



Because of our high tides, you can save a bundle on boat storage by
hauling the boat up on your beach in a cradle and storing it yourself.
You'll be paying enough in property taxes to buy a 30 foot boat every
year though.


Ouch! Our taxes are high enough that mom-n-pop businesses,
farms, small friendly marinas, etc etc, have no option but
to sell out to Wal-Mart and the condo developers. And
communities are wondering why things are changing to such an
unfriendly world, but they can't seem to forego the tax dollars.


I run a tight ship, so to speak, and your estimates are only
slightly over

Roger Long wrote:
They should be slightly over. These numbers are what you should be
prepared to spend without being forced to either put up with unsafe
situations are end up sitting on your boat wishing you could actually
use it. Hopefully, you can get by with less but you don't want to
spend that kind of money and then not be able to use your boat. You
need a little cushion.


Very well said. It's very important to have both a set of
priorities, and the bucks in pocket to implement those
priorities. Boats need "stuff" and while you need not pay
the exorbitant cost of some items which triple in price for
the word "marine" printed on the label, it still ain't free.
Even spit'n polish costs something.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

"DSK" wrote
Do you mean that the tax laws have changed so as to reflect property
usage?

Yes, the referendum passed this fall and the legislature is working on
implementation. In a state that usually shows unusual common sense,
the change failed the first time around. It took a massive education
effort to get enough people to realize that the coastline was
effectively going to become part of Massachusetts and New Jersey if it
didn't pass.

It used to be that, every time a waterfront business watched a new
house going up on a piece of vacant shoreline, they knew that their
property taxes would shortly follow. This still won't prevent
waterfront users from being priced out of obtaining property but it
will help keep them from being forced off of what they have now.

--

Roger Long

Roger Long wrote:
"DSK" wrote

Do you mean that the tax laws have changed so as to reflect property
usage?


Yes, the referendum passed this fall and the legislature is working on
implementation. In a state that usually shows unusual common sense,
the change failed the first time around. It took a massive education
effort to get enough people to realize that the coastline was
effectively going to become part of Massachusetts and New Jersey if it
didn't pass.

It used to be that, every time a waterfront business watched a new
house going up on a piece of vacant shoreline, they knew that their
property taxes would shortly follow. This still won't prevent
waterfront users from being priced out of obtaining property but it
will help keep them from being forced off of what they have now.


We have the same problem up here. Rich 'mericans throwing around Yankee
dollahs and driving up the cost of shore front properties. The
provincial govt jumps on the band wagon by raising assessments sky
high...forcing more & more long time owners to sell at least part of
their family owned properties to... you guessed it...more rich
'mericans. Vicious cycle for locals.

"Roger Long" wrote in news:%DoCf.146409$XC4.144502
@twister.nyroc.rr.com:

This still won't prevent
waterfront users from being priced out of obtaining property but it
will help keep them from being forced off of what they have now.



Everytime I read about these kinds of things, I think back to a quote in
the newspaper from a Beaufort, SC, waterfront mansion owner. She didn't
want that "floating trailer park" blocking her view she'd paid $1.2M for.

Could it be they're trying to get rid of boating for these kinds of people?

The tax bureaucrats are....

"Larry" wrote in message
...
"Roger Long" wrote in news:%DoCf.146409$XC4.144502
@twister.nyroc.rr.com:


Everytime I read about these kinds of things, I think back to a quote in
the newspaper from a Beaufort, SC, waterfront mansion owner. She didn't
want that "floating trailer park" blocking her view she'd paid $1.2M for.

Could it be they're trying to get rid of boating for these kinds of
people?

The tax bureaucrats are....

I live in Beaufort and the problem is that we have a transplant Yankee for a
mayor. Btw, he is the one that got the bridge schedule change several years
ago. So many people have come here because of the laid back charm. After a
while they get bored and try to change it to the way they did it up north. I
am a transplant, but have been here long enough to be naturalized
Beaufortonian and can still see the beauty as it is. You are right about the
tax bureaucrats. We lucked on this old cottage in an estate sale over 20
years ago. Because we are on a deep water creek, the taxes have been going
up every year. The funny part is the house valuation seems to stay the same,
but the land value has about quadrupled.

Leanne

The people I really feel for are the poor black folks out on the barrier
islands. They have owned their land for generations but their property
taxes have gone up to the point that they are being forced to sell to the
developers.

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

"Leanne" wrote in message
...

"Larry" wrote in message
...
"Roger Long" wrote in news:%DoCf.146409$XC4.144502
@twister.nyroc.rr.com:


Everytime I read about these kinds of things, I think back to a quote in
the newspaper from a Beaufort, SC, waterfront mansion owner. She didn't
want that "floating trailer park" blocking her view she'd paid $1.2M for.

Could it be they're trying to get rid of boating for these kinds of
people?

The tax bureaucrats are....

I live in Beaufort and the problem is that we have a transplant Yankee for
a
mayor. Btw, he is the one that got the bridge schedule change several
years
ago. So many people have come here because of the laid back charm. After
a
while they get bored and try to change it to the way they did it up north.
I
am a transplant, but have been here long enough to be naturalized
Beaufortonian and can still see the beauty as it is. You are right about
the
tax bureaucrats. We lucked on this old cottage in an estate sale over 20
years ago. Because we are on a deep water creek, the taxes have been going
up every year. The funny part is the house valuation seems to stay the
same,
but the land value has about quadrupled.

Leanne

On Fri, 27 Jan 2006 15:50:16 -0500, Glenn Ashmore wrote:

The people I really feel for are the poor black folks out on the barrier
islands. They have owned their land for generations but their property
taxes have gone up to the point that they are being forced to sell to the
developers.

This is sad, not just because it ruins these people's lives, but
destroys a community and a culture.

The same thing happened in Santa Fe, NM, when all the yuppies and whatnot
started moving in.

Matt O.

"Glenn Ashmore" wrote in
news:fIvCf.13820$Dh.8038@dukeread04:

The people I really feel for are the poor black folks out on the
barrier islands. They have owned their land for generations but their
property taxes have gone up to the point that they are being forced to
sell to the developers.


Don't feel too sorry for them. I fix the organs at their churches.
They're not the stupid people of yesteryear, any more. Many of them, the
smartest of the group, own major interests in those developments on the
more popular islands, like Hilton Head, SC. They live in very nice homes,
drive the finest Mercedes cars and send their children to the best schools,
now. Those Yankees aren't near as smart as they think they are...(c;

Oh, by the way, the AME church pastor's house is a little shack on Sea
Pines Plantation, on the golf course....

The real shame of it all is they lost their roots in the process. Any of
them that are involved with these bigshot deals lost their Gullah language
and the wonderful folklore that goes with it. Stop by some time and I'll
take you out to meet the REAL Gullah people of Coastal SC. I'll drop you
off out on outer Wadmalaw Island where English isn't spoken and we'll see
if you can find your way back to Charleston from the directions given you
in Gullah...(c;

If you ever get invited to an AME church dinner...you ARE in for a treat
that'll put some fat on those bones...

On Fri, 27 Jan 2006 12:47:55 +0000, Roger Long wrote:

"DSK" wrote
Do you mean that the tax laws have changed so as to reflect property
usage?

Yes, the referendum passed this fall and the legislature is working on
implementation. In a state that usually shows unusual common sense, the
change failed the first time around. It took a massive education effort
to get enough people to realize that the coastline was effectively going
to become part of Massachusetts and New Jersey if it didn't pass.

It used to be that, every time a waterfront business watched a new house
going up on a piece of vacant shoreline, they knew that their property
taxes would shortly follow. This still won't prevent waterfront users
from being priced out of obtaining property but it will help keep them
from being forced off of what they have now.

One nice thing about California is that property taxes are based on what
you bought the property for, plus ~4% per year appreciation. This is how
little old ladies can afford to keep their multi-million dollar homes.

There's no way to stop rising real estate values, but limiting property
tax and therefore fixed costs is how the little guy can stay in the
game, instead of selling out to the super-rich and the corporations.

New England is a wonderful place, but limits its own economic growth by
taxation -- not just high taxes, but stupid taxes. I read
recently that Maine has the highest overall taxes in the US.

Matt O.

Hey Matt ,,, did you hear that OJ Simpson is moving to Maine; yup, he wants
to live in a state with only one DNA.

Hey Matt,,, what's the nicest thing you can say to your neighbor up in
Maine? Nice Tooth.

Hey Matt,,,, last week I was up around Bangor looking for a boat. I'm
driving down this country road and I see a sign that says "Welcome to
Bucktooth, why across the road when ya can go across the hall".



==============================================


"Matt O'Toole" wrote in message
news
On Fri, 27 Jan 2006 12:47:55 +0000, Roger Long wrote:

"DSK" wrote
Do you mean that the tax laws have changed so as to reflect property
usage?

Yes, the referendum passed this fall and the legislature is working on
implementation. In a state that usually shows unusual common sense, the
change failed the first time around. It took a massive education effort
to get enough people to realize that the coastline was effectively going
to become part of Massachusetts and New Jersey if it didn't pass.

It used to be that, every time a waterfront business watched a new house
going up on a piece of vacant shoreline, they knew that their property
taxes would shortly follow. This still won't prevent waterfront users
from being priced out of obtaining property but it will help keep them
from being forced off of what they have now.

One nice thing about California is that property taxes are based on what
you bought the property for, plus ~4% per year appreciation. This is how
little old ladies can afford to keep their multi-million dollar homes.

There's no way to stop rising real estate values, but limiting property
tax and therefore fixed costs is how the little guy can stay in the
game, instead of selling out to the super-rich and the corporations.

New England is a wonderful place, but limits its own economic growth by
taxation -- not just high taxes, but stupid taxes. I read
recently that Maine has the highest overall taxes in the US.

Matt O.