LETTERS: TAX INCREASES COME IN BIG BITES

To the editor:

In 1994 my wife and I relocated from Pennsylvania to escape harsh winters and high property taxes. We chose Cape Girardeau.

While we did manage to escape most of the harsh winters, we certainly made a mistake regarding property taxes.

We purchased a home of less value than our Pennsylvania home and were surprised in finding the property taxes to be about equal to our taxes here in Cape Girardeau.

I was astounded to open my first property-tax bill to find a 33 percent increase. I have just received my property taxes for this year and have received another 30 percent increase.

Should this progression continue, the taxes will double in two years, four months. I am certain that the value of my property has not doubled in that short period of time. I am puzzled. Has all of the property in this town experienced this remarkable increase in value?

If it has, I am certain that all of the residents are most pleased about their newfound wealth, or they feel something is wrong regarding unreasonable increases.

I lived in the Orange County, Calif., area in the early 1980s and never say property-tax increases of the magnitude we are experiencing here. I plan to protest this increase, and you are quite welcome to join me.

RICHARD L. McCLARNEY

Cape Girardeau

EDITOR'S NOTE: Cape Girardeau County taxpayers were mailed tax-assessment notices several months ago that included reassessed values for their property. Reassessment is mandatory throughout Missouri on a continuing basis. Cape Girardeau County's assessments historically have been below state-mandated levels. This year an attempt was made to catch up, which meant many property owners received sizable increases in assessments, while others didn't change or decreased. Taxes are based on a property's assessed value. In addition, Cape Girardeau School District voters approved a bond issue for several construction projects that increased the district's levy. Protests of tax assessments must be filed with the Board of Equalization in a timely way after assessment notices are received, not when tax bills are issued.