Emancipate Your Property Against Tax Increases

Here's the promised idea based on lifetime hunting/ fishing licenses Utah used to offer. I'm not sure how to work this logistically, but if we could...

We're facing an 18.15% property tax increase depending on a vote by the City Council on August 9th. How does this effect those among us on fixed incomes, what about those struggling to survive paycheck to paycheck.

I understand a City needs money to operate. I also understand some of our neighbors (and perhaps even you) are struggling as well.

The idea: We could pay the City say $10,000 to $20,000 and emancipate our property against property taxes for the lifetime of the homeowner. Emancipate before retirement and your fixed monthly income will never be effected by a tax increase. (We may be able to apply this to the County, School District, and the Library also.)

If you look at how the property tax pie is split up, it may take a little negotiating with the other entities who have their fingers in the pie, so to speak. Follow this link to see what I mean. http://www.wvc-ut.gov/index.aspx?NID=1115

This property tax calculator is on the West Valley Cities home page and it's enlightening.

I don't know how to do it, but lifetime memberships are nothing new. The United States Fencing Association offers this, the State offered it with hunting/ fishing licenses, why not our City. Emancipate your property and never see another tax increase as long as you own the home (at least the WVC portion.)

We could then say, "The only constants may be death and taxes; but not in West Valley City."

Perhaps this idea is workable, perhaps not, perhaps it'll lead to an idea that's better. As Alfred Nobel stated, "If I have a 1,000 ideas a year and only one of them works, I'm satisfied."


Jeff White