tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994679863347954941.post6936153375067797131..comments2023-04-15T11:32:36.760-04:00Comments on The Other Athens: Your Tax Dollars at WorkUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994679863347954941.post-49391141241740456912007-07-01T10:31:00.000-04:002007-07-01T10:31:00.000-04:00If his property is truly worth $190k, I would glad...If his property is truly worth $190k, I would gladly pay him cash on the spot for it - heck, I will even given him $200k for the building. <BR/><BR/>But he knows darn well that it is not worth that - it is much, much more.<BR/><BR/>He is playing the game like everyone else with property in this town. They all want to have their property worth a ton on the private market, but pay taxes like it is a slum.<BR/><BR/>These same people are pains in the rear-end when you try to talk to them about selling it for a public use (remember the East Athens Park?). All of the sudden they are sitting on Park Avenue property.<BR/><BR/>The whole system sucks. What I don't understand is why the Consent Judgement not discussed and one tried to reach before any of this mess started?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994679863347954941.post-62725207710801584032007-06-30T14:19:00.000-04:002007-06-30T14:19:00.000-04:00No, the property in question did not deserve an "i...No, the property in question did not deserve an "increase." Neither did your property or mine or any other for that matter. Property tax, especially based upon near random, guesswork "values", is the most outrageous criminal act perpetrated by the govt. on the people. Um, if I don't want to sell my property, the value is $0!<BR/><BR/>I have friends from Eastern and Western Europe who visit regularly...they always laugh when they hear stories like this. They laugh at the stupid Americans who think they are free or think that they have any opportunity to live the "American dream" of home ownership, because, as this case clearly illustrates - no one "owns" and property - you merely rent it from the govt. Don't believe me? Don't pay your "property tax rent" and see what happens.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994679863347954941.post-54210166027396033402007-06-30T07:53:00.000-04:002007-06-30T07:53:00.000-04:00Barring improvements to the property, what could j...Barring improvements to the property, what <I>could</I> justify such an assessment as the original one proposed?<BR/><BR/>I'm not asking so much what reasonably and prudently justifies that assessment, but rather what realistically and baldly justifies it. IOWs, what would be the reasons, without consideration for value judgments about the reasons?Polusplanchnoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09326187382121725749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994679863347954941.post-83313302292555321512007-06-26T11:55:00.000-04:002007-06-26T11:55:00.000-04:00WinfieldYes, we are talking about the same case.Yo...Winfield<BR/><BR/>Yes, we are talking about the same case.<BR/><BR/>Your point about not revealing details is well taken. However, on the blog I am going to play some things close to the vest for a couple of reasons. One is that I fear too much hyperbole and/or getting into personalities would detract from the arguments I am trying to make. The odds in this community are stacked against the points I try to make under the best of circumstances, so why make it worse? The other is that I want people to feel confident that I can guard my sources, thereby encouraging them to tell me things and give me leads that I can follow up.<BR/><BR/>FWIW, I have read your comments over the years and agree with many of the points you raise concerning the conduct of the Unified Government. Also, I respect anyone who actually makes comments over his/her own name. I have been active in the blogosphere for about a year and have signed every posting or comment I have made. I understand there may be (rare) situations where prudence may encourage the use of pseudonyms or anonymity, but signed comments carry more weight with me. Of course, not all pseudonyms are equal; the identity of some bloggers who use them are well known.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994679863347954941.post-57378740775279887672007-06-25T21:42:00.000-04:002007-06-25T21:42:00.000-04:00James: I believe you are talking about the same c...James: I believe you are talking about the same case discussed in<BR/><BR/>http://www.topix.com/forum/city/athens-ga/TFA3UTICDKBV2F841<BR/><BR/>but I am not sure. So I will not mention the name here.<BR/><BR/>Is not government run by people with reputations, homes, and, hopefully, consciences? Why protect them? How do we know "anonymous attorney" is really an attorney and where he or she is? If you want to see what people do when they are not identified just look at most crimes and writings on public bathroom walls.Winfield J. Abbehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05779014096490549909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994679863347954941.post-41613740696333493482007-06-19T09:23:00.000-04:002007-06-19T09:23:00.000-04:00I agree that the Consent Judgment was generous to ...I agree that the Consent Judgment was generous to the property owner (in the extreme). I interpret that generosity as a function of how badly the county screwed up.<BR/><BR/>FWIW, the assessment assigned to the property in question for 2007 was $379,163, a 27% increase over the revised assessment of $298,406 for 2006. This case is a prime example of how property taxes can skyrocket, even in the absence of a millage rate increase.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994679863347954941.post-27022108965344131442007-06-18T23:10:00.000-04:002007-06-18T23:10:00.000-04:00It happened just that way. I know the attorney fo...It happened just that way. I know the attorney for the property owner. This was big news in the Courthouse.<BR/><BR/>And the property deserved an increase - maybe not 90% or even 60%. But SOME increase. the property owner was pissed and had money to fight. The jury would NOT have given him the result he got from the Consent Judgement, IMHO.<BR/><BR/>Bill Berryman is fucking useless. If he worked at a private firm he would've been fired for this shit. The LEAST he can do is monitor the ongoing cases for the outside counsel(s) that are hired to do the actual work.<BR/><BR/>AND he makes over $100,000 a year.<BR/><BR/>- anonymous (for obvious reasons) attorneyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com