Comments on: Oakland: Where Property Taxes Soar And The City Burns http://www.eastbayconservative.com/2008/10/31/oakland-where-property-taxes-soar-and-the-city/ Words from a Non-Leftist Thu, 08 Dec 2011 03:54:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Concerned citizen http://www.eastbayconservative.com/2008/10/31/oakland-where-property-taxes-soar-and-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-4567 Concerned citizen Mon, 09 May 2011 11:29:31 +0000 http://www.eastbayconservative.com/2008/10/31/oakland-where-property-taxes-soar-and-the-city/#comment-4567 I have to say Oakland Tax Office SUCKS ass. They are greedy, they are horrible, and they truly SUCK. I have been paying these horrible taxes for the last 10 years and the only thing that I do get out of it is a shorter commute to the city where I enjoy my time – San Francisco. I also own a property in South Lake Tahoe where my house is appraised higher than my small condo in Oakland (by the lake) and I pay half of what I pay in Oakland. I have an alarm system and I have to even pay extra fee if my alarm goes off on top of a yearly alarm owner fee (what a joke). I have called the stupid Tax Office and spoke to a number of stupid people and told them that I disagree with the raise in taxes every year, especially considering our foreclosure rates and just depressed market in general have brought the value of the condo close to what I have paid for it 10 years ago (not to mention renovations). They said that it's their general practice and I need to jump through fire hoops to try to dispute it which will most likely not work. Finally, I decided to refinance a few years back and found out that idiots put a lean on my condo for having a hot tub on my roof. I called them up and told them that the only tub on my roof is inside of my neighbor’s bathroom as I live on a 2nd floor of a 5 story building. They wouldn't remove the lean for close to 40days until I finally got fed up and told them that I will sue them if my rate goes up for the mortgage difference and all extra fees after which they removed it within 24hours. If that wasn't bad enough, NEVER EVER, buy a place where you have to pay Home Owners Association Fees because you will be paying for the crap you will never use or need. My HOA almost tripled in the last 10 years because of morons on the board. Anyway, happy buying :-) I have to say Oakland Tax Office SUCKS ass. They are greedy, they are horrible, and they truly SUCK. I have been paying these horrible taxes for the last 10 years and the only thing that I do get out of it is a shorter commute to the city where I enjoy my time – San Francisco. I also own a property in South Lake Tahoe where my house is appraised higher than my small condo in Oakland (by the lake) and I pay half of what I pay in Oakland. I have an alarm system and I have to even pay extra fee if my alarm goes off on top of a yearly alarm owner fee (what a joke). I have called the stupid Tax Office and spoke to a number of stupid people and told them that I disagree with the raise in taxes every year, especially considering our foreclosure rates and just depressed market in general have brought the value of the condo close to what I have paid for it 10 years ago (not to mention renovations). They said that it’s their general practice and I need to jump through fire hoops to try to dispute it which will most likely not work. Finally, I decided to refinance a few years back and found out that idiots put a lean on my condo for having a hot tub on my roof. I called them up and told them that the only tub on my roof is inside of my neighbor’s bathroom as I live on a 2nd floor of a 5 story building. They wouldn’t remove the lean for close to 40days until I finally got fed up and told them that I will sue them if my rate goes up for the mortgage difference and all extra fees after which they removed it within 24hours. If that wasn’t bad enough, NEVER EVER, buy a place where you have to pay Home Owners Association Fees because you will be paying for the crap you will never use or need. My HOA almost tripled in the last 10 years because of morons on the board. Anyway, happy buying :-)

]]> By: The fall of civilization spreads to Oakland « The Path to Tyranny Blog http://www.eastbayconservative.com/2008/10/31/oakland-where-property-taxes-soar-and-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-3722 The fall of civilization spreads to Oakland « The Path to Tyranny Blog Wed, 14 Jul 2010 01:57:13 +0000 http://www.eastbayconservative.com/2008/10/31/oakland-where-property-taxes-soar-and-the-city/#comment-3722 [...] Obviously, Oakland has been hard hit by the recent economic recession, as have many other cities. What the article fails to mention is that Oakland has some of the highest tax rates in the region: a 9.75% sales tax rate (only the relatively unknown towns of Pico Rivera and South Gate have higher sales taxes) and a property tax rate of 1.33%, one of the highest in the state. [...] [...] Obviously, Oakland has been hard hit by the recent economic recession, as have many other cities. What the article fails to mention is that Oakland has some of the highest tax rates in the region: a 9.75% sales tax rate (only the relatively unknown towns of Pico Rivera and South Gate have higher sales taxes) and a property tax rate of 1.33%, one of the highest in the state. [...]

]]> By: amanfly http://www.eastbayconservative.com/2008/10/31/oakland-where-property-taxes-soar-and-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-2799 amanfly Fri, 17 Jul 2009 23:01:47 +0000 http://www.eastbayconservative.com/2008/10/31/oakland-where-property-taxes-soar-and-the-city/#comment-2799 the previous blogger is right, these areas are targeted cuz they are close to SF for those that work in the city. But i see the value of paying $100 more in taxes just to be close to gourmet ghetto or culture. the long drive aside, I would choose not living in san leandro or the suburbs.(note: the long drive means less green environment. for those that dont care about the environment, they might care abt the potentially raised gas price.) it seems that one pays so much taxes but has nothing in return as services, but berkeley and oakland are close SF, kids-friendly, and the housing market is much more reasonable than that of SF that's allowing many to be home owners. these are pretty compelling reasons. what's the alternative? SF? it's 1.163%. it's 0.1% less. i.e., on house that's $400k, one would pay $400 less in sf than berkeley or oakland. but where there is $400,000 houses in sf if not in bayview and visitation? how about the suburbs, san leandro, antioch? sure, one could send their kids to go to public schools but the kids are sure not to learn a second language and perhaps public schools in all california would not sustain the budget crisis in the next 5 years. so private education is a surer bet. the previous blogger is right, these areas are targeted cuz they are close to SF for those that work in the city. But i see the value of paying $100 more in taxes just to be close to gourmet ghetto or culture. the long drive aside, I would choose not living in san leandro or the suburbs.(note: the long drive means less green environment. for those that dont care about the environment, they might care abt the potentially raised gas price.)
it seems that one pays so much taxes but has nothing in return as services, but berkeley and oakland are close SF, kids-friendly, and the housing market is much more reasonable than that of SF that’s allowing many to be home owners.
these are pretty compelling reasons.
what’s the alternative? SF? it’s 1.163%. it’s 0.1% less. i.e., on house that’s $400k, one would pay $400 less in sf than berkeley or oakland. but where there is $400,000 houses in sf if not in bayview and visitation?
how about the suburbs, san leandro, antioch? sure, one could send their kids to go to public schools but the kids are sure not to learn a second language and perhaps public schools in all california would not sustain the budget crisis in the next 5 years. so private education is a surer bet.

]]> By: Sparky13 http://www.eastbayconservative.com/2008/10/31/oakland-where-property-taxes-soar-and-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-2204 Sparky13 Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:36:51 +0000 http://www.eastbayconservative.com/2008/10/31/oakland-where-property-taxes-soar-and-the-city/#comment-2204 The LLAD was just another way for the city to attempt to grab more property tax dollars. Oakland likes to promote parcel tax propositions in order to save services "save libraries", "save parks", or "save renters". Typically if the proposition passes, the city takes the service's original funding, and lets the new proposition money to pay for it. We get taxed more for the same service, while the original funding goes into the general fund. It's happened so many times here that it's hard to believe that people still fall for it. The LLAD was just another way for the city to attempt to grab more property tax dollars. Oakland likes to promote parcel tax propositions in order to save services “save libraries”, “save parks”, or “save renters”. Typically if the proposition passes, the city takes the service’s original funding, and lets the new proposition money to pay for it. We get taxed more for the same service, while the original funding goes into the general fund. It’s happened so many times here that it’s hard to believe that people still fall for it.

]]> By: V Smoothe http://www.eastbayconservative.com/2008/10/31/oakland-where-property-taxes-soar-and-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-2175 V Smoothe Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:12:21 +0000 http://www.eastbayconservative.com/2008/10/31/oakland-where-property-taxes-soar-and-the-city/#comment-2175 How is the LLAD a slush fund? How is the LLAD a slush fund?

]]> By: TheBoss http://www.eastbayconservative.com/2008/10/31/oakland-where-property-taxes-soar-and-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-2154 TheBoss Tue, 04 Nov 2008 09:25:21 +0000 http://www.eastbayconservative.com/2008/10/31/oakland-where-property-taxes-soar-and-the-city/#comment-2154 Great point about Berkeley versus San Leandro. I really think the best bargain is Piedmont. There are actually a few relatively cheap houses there right now because of the housing crash. Great point about Berkeley versus San Leandro. I really think the best bargain is Piedmont. There are actually a few relatively cheap houses there right now because of the housing crash.

]]> By: David http://www.eastbayconservative.com/2008/10/31/oakland-where-property-taxes-soar-and-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-2150 David Mon, 03 Nov 2008 20:17:42 +0000 http://www.eastbayconservative.com/2008/10/31/oakland-where-property-taxes-soar-and-the-city/#comment-2150 One main reason I'm living in San Leandro, and not B/Oakland. For the same amount of money, I'm paying ~ $100/month less in taxes/junk fees and way less than Berkeley. I disagree with you on Berkeley though--it's less convenient to SF than San Leandro is (same BART time, but more frequent trains here, etc). Misguided folks just think it's cooler. One main reason I’m living in San Leandro, and not B/Oakland. For the same amount of money, I’m paying
~ $100/month less in taxes/junk fees and way less than Berkeley.

I disagree with you on Berkeley though–it’s less convenient to SF than San Leandro is (same BART time, but more frequent trains here, etc). Misguided folks just think it’s cooler.

]]> By: SF2OAK http://www.eastbayconservative.com/2008/10/31/oakland-where-property-taxes-soar-and-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-2148 SF2OAK Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:35:47 +0000 http://www.eastbayconservative.com/2008/10/31/oakland-where-property-taxes-soar-and-the-city/#comment-2148 As someone who has been looking at purchasing a home in the east bay, I thank you for that informative list. Every time i have considered purchasing in OAK I am cautioned by the outrageous taxation in OAK, and at least in Pied. or Lamorinda one can at least send their child to public school and gets some value for $. I perceive getting no/or little value for taxes that one must pay in OAK- the streets are in disrepair- the maintenance backlog must be high and only going higher, the schools just holding pens, the police force overwhelmed, overpaid, and probably need a high cash infusion for modernization and ultimately ineffective. As someone who has been looking at purchasing a home in the east bay, I thank you for that informative list. Every time i have considered purchasing in OAK I am cautioned by the outrageous taxation in OAK, and at least in Pied. or Lamorinda one can at least send their child to public school and gets some value for $. I perceive getting no/or little value for taxes that one must pay in OAK- the streets are in disrepair- the maintenance backlog must be high and only going higher, the schools just holding pens, the police force overwhelmed, overpaid, and probably need a high cash infusion for modernization and ultimately ineffective.

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