Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2014 10:07 am
Scott -
I completely agree that when one looks at their tax bill, the figure is not big but let's follow the real money and issue here. Go back to the first post on this thread and review the numbers. The cost estimate was provided by Charlevoix County officials. Keep in mind that an Administrative Fee is just that, a fee placed on the cost of doing something, it this case sending out tax notices.
$21,529.46 Administrative Fee collected
$2,000.00 Estimated cost of tax notices or 9.3% of revenue
$19, 529.49 Balance remaining and unaccounted for or 90.7%
Most people may find this amount insignificant. However, keep in mind that this fee has been charged since 1965, with the estimated total to date being $1,000,000 (one million dollars) or more. Apply the same percent ratio as above to this figure. If 90% of this figure is unaccounted for, it equals over $900,000 (nine hundred thousand dollars). That insignificant amount on one's tax bill suddenly becomes more significant or should to all taxpayers.
The point being that we are being over charged by 90% above what the cost of tax notices total. It is an imposed tax without taxpayer approval and we believe done so unlawfully without the required authorization.
As for traction, people are reading this and talking about it but not necessarily posting about it. Taxpayers can make up their own minds, we simply want to shine a light on the issue in hopes of accountability by the officials we entrust with our tax dollars.
Kirk
I completely agree that when one looks at their tax bill, the figure is not big but let's follow the real money and issue here. Go back to the first post on this thread and review the numbers. The cost estimate was provided by Charlevoix County officials. Keep in mind that an Administrative Fee is just that, a fee placed on the cost of doing something, it this case sending out tax notices.
$21,529.46 Administrative Fee collected
$2,000.00 Estimated cost of tax notices or 9.3% of revenue
$19, 529.49 Balance remaining and unaccounted for or 90.7%
Most people may find this amount insignificant. However, keep in mind that this fee has been charged since 1965, with the estimated total to date being $1,000,000 (one million dollars) or more. Apply the same percent ratio as above to this figure. If 90% of this figure is unaccounted for, it equals over $900,000 (nine hundred thousand dollars). That insignificant amount on one's tax bill suddenly becomes more significant or should to all taxpayers.
The point being that we are being over charged by 90% above what the cost of tax notices total. It is an imposed tax without taxpayer approval and we believe done so unlawfully without the required authorization.
As for traction, people are reading this and talking about it but not necessarily posting about it. Taxpayers can make up their own minds, we simply want to shine a light on the issue in hopes of accountability by the officials we entrust with our tax dollars.
Kirk