February 11, 2016 1:30 p.m.
Property taxes are largely a transfer of wealth from those citizens that own businesses and homes to those that benefit from larger govt. Joe Zimmerman
There is currently a lot of information going around about taxes. In the
days ahead residents of Nassau County will have a chance to discuss, debate and decide how taxation and government services should be balanced. While some would call for more taxes and increased revenues for government, perhaps we should pause and take a moment to understand how taxes and growth in government really have a negative effect on all of us.
Last year, for most property owners there was a rise in the property taxes paid to the county, the municipalities and the schools in part because there was an increase in the valuation of the property by the Property Appraiser’s office.
The growth in revenues always means growth in government. This includes more government jobs and new demands for pay raises, among other expenditures. The average government worker in Nassau County makes about $54,000 while the average citizen in our largest industry (service) is working for just over $23,000 each year.
Property taxes are largely a transfer of wealth from those citizens that own businesses and homes to those that benefit from larger government. While government claims to struggle with their costs and “level of service” it pales in comparison to the struggle of the average Joe. A larger robust government means greater intrusion upon the lives of the citizens. There is no end to the mission of government to develop and grow.
Limited government is a principle that our founding fathers understood well and by design created a system that would seek to keep government at a minimum, allowing people more freedom to live their lives and spend their own hard-earned money.
Property taxes force some to pay the full freight while others get to benefit, and pay very little to nothing at all. Higher taxation provides a path towards a predictable steady stream of income that can be used to fund the goals of bigger government.
I am sure that the views of those bureaucrats are well intentioned and that they view their need for more money as a valid and reasonable demand in order to accomplish their mission. We hear how the claim to serve the “taxpayer” is always front and center, but when you take a closer look there is no hesitation in spending money on studies, cell phones, junkets and a host of other requests.
It takes real work to add value. Taxation only takes away the value that has been created by others. I suppose you could argue that increased values in property are created by government, but the truth is that real value is created by hard work. It is past time to rethink how we create a robust climate that allows for businesses to flourish and create jobs here in Nassau County.
Editor’s Note: Joe Zimmerman served as a constituent liaison to Representative Janet Adkins in the Florida House of Representatives, is a local small business owner, and is a candidate for Nassau County Commission, District 5.
You are absolutely right! Well said!
When appraised values rise, shouldn’t the tax rate fall correspondingly? If it doesn’t, why is that? The math is easy enough!
Saw Joe today at the Rally to save our State Parks from the Bill that is currently in the People House in Tallahassee. This bill would allow Gas and Oil Companies to Explore for and Drill Wells inside our State Parks, utilizing the Hydro-Fracturing, with the addition of Hydrofloric and Hydrocloric Acid in the Fracking Formula. Also Commercially lumber our State Parks for Chip wood to sell to the Bio-Fuel Industry. And Hunting and Grazing of Cattle and Sheep. Another Bill, I think separate, would allow the Park service to sell off Lands that are not being developed, or maintained by the park service, to Individuals who own lands, adjacent to that park land (How could Politicians ever utilize that clause to corrupt the system).
We got talking about the upcoming Republican Primary, and I was telling Joe about my concern about Gaming of the Primary, to give his old Boss Janet Adkins an unfair advantage over a qualified educator Dr. Burns, by closing the Primary to only Republican Registered Voters, by bringing in a Libertarian candidate for Superintendent of our School System. Joe, who is a thoughtful, knowledgeable, qualified candidate for County Commissioner district 1 Said the Political powers in the County have done the same to him. Because the 501 c something called : “Concerned Citizens of Nassau County” funded out of Tallahassee by Lobbyist, Contractors, and Builders. want their man in Office. Seems we all have another reason to be Registered Republicans for their Primary. I don’t know anyone that knows Joe Zimmerman, Who doesn’t think he’s a Stand-up Guy. The best we have to offer ourselves as a County Commissioner. Good luck Joe, I’ll be a Registered Republican on Primary day. I’ll not be one of the 43% that is locked out of my vote for you.
Steve –
We appreciate your comment, as we believe it is important to have an open dialogue about issues that effect each and every resident in the county. However, there seems to be some misinformation being spread about the intentions of ‘Citizens for a Better Nassau County.’ As such, we want to clarify that ‘Citizens for a Better Nassau County’ is not a political group. Our group is not engaged in “closing primaries” or political activities of any kind. It is a Florida-based corporation organized and functioning under the guidelines of chapter 501(c)(4) of the tax code.
As a 501(c)(4) corporation, ‘Citizens for a Better Nassau County’ operates as a community education vehicle only, providing information to the entire community on the long-term financial sustainability of Nassau County and establishing conversations designed to spark a community dialogue on the future of the county. To achieve a broad impact, ‘Citizens for a Better Nassau County’ will host community events, provide community briefings on a variety of topics, and periodically disseminate factual information about the county’s tax base, operating budget and capital budget. We will not be endorsing candidates, advertising on their behalf or engaging in electioneering as defined by Florida law.
Additionally, ‘Citizens for a Better Nassau County’ is supported and funded by Nassau County residents who are concerned with the fiscal outlook of the county, which could challenge the prosperity of the county for generations to come; and, the funds given to the coalition are only used to fulfill its educational mission. My firm’s services were merely acquired to assist the members of the coalition in getting their message out in the best way possible and the members wanted to use an experienced team to ensure the best results for the county. We encourage you to learn more about ‘Citizens for a Better Nassau County’ and the fiscal issues impacting the county by visiting CitizensforaBetterNassau.com.
There happen to be a variety of “tax” concepts – other than property taxes. Some even apply progressively to those taking and making the most from (including environmental costs) – or giving the most to – our local area. It’s also about both sides of the balance sheet. Bonding and long term financing can be good and pay for itself over time, particularly for infrastructure and capital related projects. On the revenue side, it’s about the type of tax imposed, getting the right kind of businesses to come to our area, and keeping the bad apples away. Nassau County can afford to be selective.
http://taxfoundation.org/article/sources-state-and-local-tax-revenues
As a long-time resident of Nassau County, I believe it is very important that we learn about the candidates attempting to fill our local offices before election time. These are the elected officials that will impact our lives as they make decisions that will drive our community forward or potentially backward. We need to be armed with the facts when it comes time to cast our ballot and elect candidates who are accountable, qualified and well-versed on the issues that the county faces or may face down the road.
What brought me to write this was Joe Zimmerman’s recent piece in the News-Leader, titled “Taxes.” Mr. Zimmerman is just one of the candidates who is running to fill the open seat for District 5 on the Board of County Commissioners. His statement that “Property taxes are largely a transfer of wealth from those citizens that own businesses and homes to those that benefit from large government” is so simplistic it is ridiculous and an insult to people’s intelligence.
Nassau County has virtually no capital reserves to maintain its roads (both dirt and asphalt), buildings, bridges and parks – not to mention emergency vehicles, grounds equipment, etc. The county has fewer employees than it did a few years ago, has only a couple people to cover grounds maintenance across the entire county and cannot even regularly mow the medians along SR 200. Perpetually deferring maintenance on the capital assets taxpayers paid for is not a conservative value.
Now Mr. Zimmerman’s contribution to the dialogue is to preach to people about the virtues of limited government?! Well, you’re preaching to the choir, Mr. Zimmerman. Nobody wants higher taxes. But, people expect adequately maintained roads, less crowded schools and emergency vehicles to show up when needed. They expect our elected leaders to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars and to adequately maintain depreciating assets we’ve invested our tax dollars in so they don’t cost us more later. They also expect us to grow our capital reserve account and fund our capital improvement plan. What are you going to do, Mr. Zimmerman, to grow and diversify our tax base so you can keep my residential property taxes low?
I want to know that our elected leaders are equipped and ready to deal with the fiscal crisis we’re in. We don’t need empty promises and political ideology. We need candidates capable of making the decisions that are truly in Nassau County’s best interests.
Ben Cazell
Fernandina Beach