HOW DO FORECLOSURES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ADD TO OUR TAXES??? HOW MUCH IS "FEATHERBEDDING"???
As REALTORS maybe it is time for us to put pressure on the Government to be more fiscally responsible when it comes to "caring" for properties that may be abandoned or neglected.
Lenn Harley's blog points out some outrageous local prices that the VA govt is paying to mow lawns on neglected properties. My husband happens to run a high end landscaping company in the DC Metro area and I can tell you first hand that $400 to mow a 1/4 acre is OUTRAGEOUS!! Sign me up to get involved!
MAIL FROM THE VIRGINIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS THIS A.M. MADE MY BLOOD BOIL!
WE ALL KNOW THAT FORECLOSED AND ABANDONED PROPERTIES ARE AN EYESORE. BEFORE THE BANKS WHO OWN THESE PROPERTIES TAKE OVER MAINTENANCE (IF THEY DO) COUNTY OR CITY GOVERNMENTS OFTEN HAVE THE GRASS CUT TO DISCOURAGE VANDALS OR TO AVOID UNSIGHTLY APPEARANCE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
OUR TAXES PAY FOR THESE GOVERNMENT SERVICES. This is an example of how much we tax payers pay to have governments do ANYTHING.
HOW MUCH "FEATHERBEDDING" IS ADDED TO OUR LOCAL TAXES BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS???
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At the Governor's Housing Conference in Richmond this week, Jennifer Leonard of the Center for Community Progress and Jeff Blackford from the Fairfax County Department of Code Compliance explained that yes, foreclosures put a lot of pressure on local governments too.
At the same time, cities and counties are seeing their code-enforcement costs go up - there are more vacant homes to board up, and more overgrown grass in front of more vacant homes that needs to be cut, for example. (For example, according to Blackford, Fairfax County spends $250-400 to mow a quarter-acre lot.) (emphasis added)
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WHAT??? $400 TO MOW A 1/4 ACRE LOT??? NO WONDER COUNTY GOVERNMENTS WANT MORE AND MORE TAX MONEY.
Spending $250-400 to mow a 1/4 acre lot is a prime example of the excess of government, any government. Can't the folks in the government SEE that the fee is outrageous????
I pay $100 to have a t a 1.6 acre lot mowed. No wonder there's no money. Far too much of our money is going through government hands where more than half of it goes for NOTHING, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING except more government.
If local governments are paying $250-$400 of our tax money to have a 1/4 acre lot mowed, the only logical explanation is that they are hiring their cousins and uncles. If they are paying government staff to perform the duties that any neighborhood 16 year old could do, they must be using a staff of 3 to do a one many job.
We've seen many examples of local government excesses. However, it hits home when it's in your back yard.
HOW MUCH DOES YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT PAY TO HAVE THE GRASS CUT ON FORECLOSED PROPERTIES?
Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.
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