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Small Cabin Forum / General Forum / What is everyone paying for property taxes?
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jgiffi
Member
# Posted: 8 Mar 2012 16:28
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I am from upstate NY and I own 25 acres near camden, ny and I was wondering what people are paying for taxes/yr?

I don't have access to power or town utilities and I am paying just over $1000/yr between property and school tax for just the land.

Are people paying school tax even though they are off grid?

Just curious if people are utilizing any means of reducing their taxes because its recreational property or seasonal? I am not looking to do anything illegal and if thats what I owe thats what I owe but if there are programs or other things that I can utilize to lower my taxes I am all about it.

Thanks in advance for the suggestions.

Justin

Martian
Member
# Posted: 8 Mar 2012 16:39
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If your state has "agricultural" exemptions, I'd look into planting fruit trees or claiming forestry use on the property.

Tom

toyota_mdt_tech
Member
# Posted: 8 Mar 2012 16:42 - Edited by: toyota_mdt_tech
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For my cabin, I was paying $32 a yr for my 20.25 acres, that is for everything. I am considered a farmer, I have all standing timber. I dont have power or phone service to my place (do have cell service) Since adding the cabin, it is now a whopping $197 a year. I just sent it off last monday. My current home that I live is in about $2,200 a year. Its .29 acres. 1800 sq feet plug a garage, 12X16 toolshed and a 6X8 mower garage.

wakeslayer
Member
# Posted: 8 Mar 2012 16:46
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I pay $1159 for 25 acres in Boundary County ID. literally, over 50% of it is solid waste disposal which I do not use. They will not let me opt out. Fought and fought them. I can live with the education taxes, etc, but the garbage tax is ridiculous. I have 13 acres in another county just south of there. I am able to opt out of the waste tax there. I do use the dump in that county. $5 per visit. I have a friend that gives me his extra sticker so most of the time I do not have to pay that, even.
The irony is that my cabin access road is landlocked by the other said county, and I have to drive right past that dump all the time. To actually use the dump I pay for, I would have to drive 20 miles to the north. Sorry for the rant. It is just stupid. And unfair.

MtnDon
Member
# Posted: 8 Mar 2012 16:56
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We are fortunate I think, in that our land is several parcels all adjacent to one another. Only the lot with the cabin pays a higher rate for developed property. No utility connections of any kind. The other lots are vacant officially and taxed very low. Off or On Grid has nothing to do with school taxes or at least doesn't where we are in NM. You pay those even if you don't have school age children or go to private schools. Average cost is $60 an acre with a couple hundred extra on the developed land.

sabiggs
Member
# Posted: 8 Mar 2012 17:17
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We pay about $1000 for 10 acres in Southern VT.

naturelover66
Member
# Posted: 8 Mar 2012 17:25
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I pay 400 a year for 5 acres with cabin and power. And yes, that includes school taxes.

jbos333
Member
# Posted: 8 Mar 2012 17:46
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I'm paying too much! Thanks NY!

75+ acres, unimproved except for 24 x 24 pole barn w/ electric service.

Around $2000.00/yr.

Now, when I get a Cert of Occupancy for my 900ish SF "cabin" I hiope to break ground for this spring, I expect total taxes to be around $5000.00/yr.

Approx 50 acres are in timber. I have asked several foresters about the NY tax reduction program. They all seem to think it's not worth the trouble.

jgiffi
Member
# Posted: 8 Mar 2012 18:15
Reply 


jbos333, sorry to hear about the taxes and I feel your pain. Have any pics of the pole barn? Did you pay someone to build it?

I am looking into the agricultural option. Does anyone know if there is a minimum yield you must produce in NY to qualify?

jbos333
Member
# Posted: 8 Mar 2012 18:47
Reply 


I will have to see if I can dig any pics up. It's just a simple 24 x 24 with board/batten siding. One man door and one 12' wide slider. Metal roof, poured floor. 6/12 pitch roof with generous overhang/eave. Paid local Amish to build it. All rough milled lumber except roof rafters.

Gonna be paying Amish to pour footers/ lay block basement/ dry-in my cabin too. Money well spent.

mrcvs
# Posted: 8 Mar 2012 20:03
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The MAJORITY of my taxes ARE school taxes, and I had enough sense not to bring children into this already overpopulated world. Without the school taxes, my taxes would be reasonable; because of them, they are not. What are your thoughts? I think, if you choose to have kids, their education is your responsibility. As I elected not to propagate, why should my taxes subsidize their education??? My two cents worth.

Now, if the taxes were minimal, I wouldn't have a problem with this. Because they are excessive, I do.

jbos333
Member
# Posted: 8 Mar 2012 20:09 - Edited by: jbos333
Reply 


some pics....sorry for the poor quality
pole barn
pole barn
pole barn2
pole barn2
pole barn3
pole barn3
pole barn4
pole barn4


vandersysml
Member
# Posted: 8 Mar 2012 22:59
Reply 


Wow, I feel lucky. I pay $24 per year including the school tax and optional community library tax for my 20 acres in Arkansas. I don't think I could afford the taxes y'all are paying

jgiffi
Member
# Posted: 8 Mar 2012 23:25
Reply 


jbos333, nice setting! We have a large amish community up near us as well and they are amazing craftsman.

mrcvs, I definitely know what you mean but I am going to try not to go there because I feel like not just school taxes but all the programs that are available are a little much. Saw an article on-line that a lottery winner (won 1 million) was still collecting food stamps...lol serious!

MtnDon
Member
# Posted: 8 Mar 2012 23:42
Reply 


I saw that article too but also noted that the legislature was acting to remove the loophole that made that possible. Trouble with laws is that they are written by people who are all pretty much imperfect and sometimes bent on benefiting themselves more than anything or anyone else.

I don't want to hijack this nice civil thread but maybe someone wants to start a thread on the inequities of what they see in their local / state / federal tax situation. ??? I have opinions on the matter

jgiffi
Member
# Posted: 8 Mar 2012 23:51
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LOL, no problem Don sometimes we need to just vent a little I know that no system is perfect. If you start the thread I won't be far behind with my own 2cents

toddheyn
Member
# Posted: 9 Mar 2012 06:21
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Justin,

We have our 20 acres and our 12x16 off grid "storage shed" and our taxes are less than $100 per year.

We are located about 30 miles south of Canton, NY.

Seto
Member
# Posted: 9 Mar 2012 07:58
Reply 


Hi Toddheyn,

I grew up in Canton, went to Hugh C Williams High School then the Ranger School, I'm about 70 Miles North, Have you heard about the Sustainable Living Project out of Canton, they do a lot of things that Cabin enthusiests canmake use of, they just did a class on firewood a week or two ago.

To answer the Tax question I pay $70 a year school taxes and $90 a year property tax

mikehu1966
Member
# Posted: 9 Mar 2012 09:37
Reply 


I have 25 Acres and a double wide, in NY, Otesgo County, approximately paying $2100 / year for town and school taxes

wakeslayer
Member
# Posted: 9 Mar 2012 10:18
Reply 


regarding mrcvs comments.... sorry if this is not viewed as civil...

A) Who paid for your education?
B) Do you really want to be surrounded by a largely non-educated population of dummies in your older age?

I hate paying taxes as much as the next guy, but some of them are necessary. Education being one of them, for sure. My kids are older, and have never gone to school in Idaho where I pay my cabin property taxes. That is the one item on the itemized list I do not bitch about.

trollbridge
Member
# Posted: 9 Mar 2012 10:23
Reply 


Quoting: mrcvs
and I had enough sense not to bring children into this already overpopulated world

insulting!

toddheyn
Member
# Posted: 9 Mar 2012 10:53
Reply 


Quoting: Seto
I grew up in Canton, went to Hugh C Williams High School then the Ranger School, I'm about 70 Miles North, Have you heard about the Sustainable Living Project out of Canton, they do a lot of things that Cabin enthusiests canmake use of, they just did a class on firewood a week or two ago.To answer the Tax question I pay $70 a year school taxes and $90 a year property tax


Seto - Right now we only own a vacation/retreat cabin and are currently living in Easton, PA. That project sounds very interesting though. I graduated from SUNY-ESF in 1991 (EFB) so we have similar backgrounds.

Quoting: mikehu1966
I have 25 Acres and a double wide, in NY, Otesgo County, approximately paying $2100 / year for town and school taxes


mikehu1966 - I am originally from Oneonta. I would love to get back to the area. We are planning on a career move in the very near future.

Either of you guys know of any openings or opportunities for someone with 17 years on management experience specializing in the non-profit world?

jgiffi
Member
# Posted: 9 Mar 2012 10:57
Reply 


+2 - didn't read that comment that closely but can definitely see how it would be insulting. I don't really want to go down this road with this thread because its everyone's own right to do what they like and if someone decides whether to have children or not that's their choice and I don't have a problem with it either way. Family is extremely important and I know its a passionate subject from both sides but please lets respect eachothers decisions and not make insulting or any other comments that would be seen as offensive.

While I personally agree that education is extremely important I also believe that there is alot of waste and disregard for tax payers money. I also believe that kids are seeking higher education for the wrong reasons and unfortunately afterwards have little to nothing to show for it (except student loans!). While I don't believe this represents the majority, I do believe there are improvements that can be made to the system.

Personal rant and would like to not go down that route with this thread.

Thank you,

Justin

destraate
# Posted: 9 Mar 2012 11:05
Reply 


Quoting: MtnDon
I don't want to hijack this nice civil thread but maybe someone wants to start a thread on the inequities of what they see in their local / state / federal tax situation. ??? I have opinions on the matter


Don, you MUST be joking. Here in New Mexico we have marvelous politicians that always have our best interest at heart. Did you hear about the whole mayoral race down in Sunrise?

Patgreat
Member
# Posted: 9 Mar 2012 11:31
Reply 


i have a cabin on state ground in NE PA and i pay around 1200 for school tax. Its crazy since according to PA laws i can not live at my cabin or have mail sent there since its on state ground, yet i still have to pay school tax

Bevis
Member
# Posted: 9 Mar 2012 11:32
Reply 


Quoting: trollbridge
Quoting: mrcvs
and I had enough sense not to bring children into this already overpopulated world
insulting!


That's his opinnion... Take a deep breath and relax.

CabinBuilder
Admin
# Posted: 9 Mar 2012 13:29 - Edited by: CabinBuilder
Reply 


Please note: this thread is about Property Taxes, presumably where your cabin is.
For discussion about other tax issues see this Taxes thread.


mrcvs
# Posted: 10 Mar 2012 08:10
Reply 


In response to wakeslayer:

I paid for my own education, following high school. I have never been in a private school a day in my life! Having said that, I don't think high school (or college, lately, for that matter), provides one with the tools for one to function in today's world. It feels like my taxes, when spent on the schools, are being thrown away!

Therefore, I think that education should be funded by the parents, not by taxes. Those who can truly afford an advanced, and expensive education--well, they probably don't need the money, anyways.

I realize this is a touchy subject, but these are simply my beliefs.

Also, I see a lot of impressionable young college students who believe that a liberal arts degree is the ticket to a high-paying job once they receive their diploma (I was one of them). In hindsight, I would have been better off not getting good grades and then being told I was not college material. I would have been "forced" to pursue a trade. Have you paid for a plumber lately?

VC_fan
Member
# Posted: 10 Mar 2012 08:35
Reply 


Back to the topic's question.... Three separate ~10 acre tracts (no utilities, structures) less than $100/year each. 141 acre tract (no utilities, structures) that was in CAUV (Current Agriculture Use Value) program when we bought it and still is runs about $400/year. 120 acre tract with a prior home site and utilities but no structure is about $900/year. As a general rule, there seems to be a bit of randomness to what you have to pay. The tax bill details where it goes on a percentage basis (schools, etc) but it's just one bill based on some guess at the property's value. Vinton County, OH.

wakeslayer
Member
# Posted: 10 Mar 2012 08:41
Reply 


mrcvs,

That was my point. Likely, your K-12 education was paid for, in part, by people with no children who thought the same way. We have to agree to disagree on this one point.

I agree with most of your post above. I just do not agree about primary education funding. Children have to start somewhere. The next great doctors, economists, inventors, etc, could be from a home that would not otherwise be able to begin to educate that world changing child. I do think that anything beyond the education part should be privately paid for. Sports being a big one, meals, dances, all that.

I was somewhat reacting to the inflammatory way you said what you said. Perception on the internet..... We probably agree on more than you think.

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