At this month's League of Women Voters candidate forum,
audience member Dick Parker asked school board candidates when they would raise
property taxes.
When low tax revenues put student achievement at
risk answered Helen Wade -- the most accomplished speaker among the
candidates -- and the most achievement focused. Wade also emphasized that
Columbia's students deserve no less and should settle for no
less than the absolute best education this community can provide.
Problem is, Columbia is settling for less than the best,
and low tax revenues are putting student achievement at risk. Just maybe not in
the way you might think.
Call
it the property tax gap -- the difference between what Boone
County's very rich -- billionaires and multi-millionaires with sizeable real
estate holdings -- pay versus what the rest of us pay.
Schools and other public services are losing out
on tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars of property
tax valuation, most of it locked up in dubious land-use designations used
to shield prime assets.
It's a wide-reaching problem this publication has reported on too
many times to count -- an insidious crisis that tolls like a petty blackmailer,
taking from every average taxpayer; more from every school teacher; even more
from every aging Columbia or Boone County school building that desperately needs
basic improvements (like air conditioning and mold-free conditions); even more
again from annual budgets, slashed tremendously in recent years to
accomodate those wealthy enough to pay so little.
The property tax gap is also a dirty little secret
virtually anyone in leadership knows well, but about which no proposed remedy
has yet succeeded. At City Hall, when Council members requested action; and at
Columbia Public Schools, when School Board members requested action, their
inquiries were squelched.
School Board
president Jan Mees took the time to complete a lengthy survey about the issue. After personally investigating undertaxed properties herself, Mees
was left scratching her head as to why the owners paid so little in property
taxes. In the end, she could only defer to the State.
"From this exercise, one is led to conclude that there are inconsistencies, discrepancies, or inequities in the valuations and taxes assessed on some properties. But there are state laws and statutes regulating this valuation process," Mees wrote. "School Boards do not take part in determining property value."
Less experienced candidates also got on eyeful, exploring the property tax gap for themselves.
"From this exercise, one is led to conclude that there are inconsistencies, discrepancies, or inequities in the valuations and taxes assessed on some properties. But there are state laws and statutes regulating this valuation process," Mees wrote. "School Boards do not take part in determining property value."
Less experienced candidates also got on eyeful, exploring the property tax gap for themselves.
"As our schools suffer directly from undervalued tax
assessments, I believe based on the information provided that we certainly could
have a problem," said current Columbia City Councilman Jason
Thornhill, in response to a 2009 candidate questionnaire. "I still think it will be tricky to tax someone entirely upon the
possibility of what they could do. I also know that there are many, many
undervalued parcels of land that are effectively costing our schools and
public safety entities money due to their gross underpayment of
tax."
"If there is a systematic bias in assessed values that
undervalues certain types of property, it would be in the interest of the school
district to investigate," said current School Board member Michelle
Pruitt.
"The issues raised and the information presented in the
articles are something the new Council and Board of Education will need to
discuss in great detail," said current School Board member Christine
King.
"First, everyone will need to be schooled and educated on how
land should be assessed. If the laws are being followed, then what is the
problem -- is it the assessment or the law? If the laws on assessment are not
being followed and applied fairly, then we need to address that issue
appropriately. We must be diligent and also treat each
situation on its merits."
RELATED:
No comments:
Post a Comment