Well, taxes anyway.
NewMexiKen received the property tax bill today — just seven days before the first half is due. (Nice work, Bernalillo County!)
Most of the agencies are up a few dollars but a couple are down a few too. One however, is a big change. The taxes for Albuquerque Public Schools are up a whooping 29.2% over last year.
Now I happen to think schools are underfunded and teachers (most of them anyway) underpaid. But 29% in one year? I need to start paying attention — it’s 36% of my tax bill.
Here’s another interesting one — taxes for the University of New Mexico Hospital are 22% of my total bill.
And overall, in eight years, my property taxes are up 50%. (The assessment is up just 22%, so most of the increase is in the tax rates.)
How about you? Do you ever look at your property tax bill?
Hi Ken,
I guess I’m “one of the 6 regular visitors” to your site. Always an interesting read. Thanks! You ought to check the due date on your tax bill again. Mine says December 10, not November. Maybe yours is due sooner?
My tax bill went up approx $200 from last year. Unfortunately, whenever APS needs more money, the general populace puts property tax payers into a big guilt trip over “the children.” So, naturally school tax keeps growing. I’ve always thought that APS needs to be pressured more to spend wisely before they return to the well.
I used to live in NJ 30 years ago, and even at that time property taxes made homeownership prohibitive. Now, fuggetaboudit. People are getting out and moving elsewhere.
Indeed the taxes are “due” November 10th, but the actual you must-pay-by date is December 10th.