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June 30, 2010
California Taxpayers Pay 71¢ for 1¢
Posted by Dave Blount at June 30, 2010 6:29 PM
An economy spontaneously organized by voluntary exchange and enlightened self-interest runs efficiently. But as we're learning, an economy coercively organized by Big Government runs a little differently:
California Farmers like Casey Stone of Yolo County pay property tax on what their land produces, not on what it'd be worth if there were a house, or a strip mall on it.
"That's the long term battle about keeping open space in California," Stone explains.
And the State of California used to help in that battle by making-up for the lower property taxes with payments to cities and counties. That is, until the Great Recession. Now, the State pays $1,000. And that's a total; $1000 divided between all the cities and counties.
"It's a pointless number. It just keeps the operation on the books," Stone says.
But more than pointless, in the case of 6 counties and cites, the payment was only pennies. And that's less than the 71 cents it cost to process the payment and get a receipt. [For example,] 71 cents to send a single penny to Camarillo [County].
At least the bureauweenies mean well. Note that the objective of the program is to suppress economic development.
On a tip from Muddypaw.
