I know NJ taxes are silly expensive.
Around here a $7,800 tax bill would put me on about 80 acres, a 3-4K square foot house dependent upon amenities, and a pretty decent out building.
Sadly that will never happen.

I am going to guess their debit card is not even close to the 5% cash back I get with my Amazon Prime credit card.

Sad thing is a large portion of your local population will actually believe their taxes are lower.

quote:

Originally posted by rtquig:
$7,800 a year.

Yikes!

" help you reduce your property tax bill each year."

Sounds good to me... eventually you will not have to pay any taxes if they are reduced each year....

Does anyone really think politicians will lower taxes if they receive this extra money?
At best they will find some extra “need” to spend it on.

Moving out of NJ was the best way to reduce property taxes for me.

My wife has to work 2 more year until retirement which will get her a very nice pension and full medical for all of us. I found a nice home in Georgia, 3 acres surrounded by a friends property. The house is well within our range but would mean we would still have to afford living here and have the house in Georgia which would include the taxes and utilities. I want to buy now while it is still available but she doesn't want to stretch our finances too thin for 2 years.

When I left New Jersey almost 20 years ago my taxes on my house were $3600.00 a year. We owned a one and a half story cape that was around 1300 sq feet. It had 2 bedrooms 1 bathroom with a finished basement.
My taxes on my house in Florida are $650.00 a year. It is only 1000 sq feet but it is a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom house.
I figure my taxes in New Jersey would have more than doubled by now on my old house.
Taxes in the north east are getting to the point that people just can't afford to live there especially after they retire.
Unfortunately a lot of the people from the north east are moving to Florida and bringing their political ideologies with them.

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:

quote:

Originally posted by sigcrazy7:

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:
I'm missing what you are pissed about? If I read it correctly they are offering a rebate credit card. Instead of getting airline miles, hotel stays, or cash back you get your reward in the form of tax credits. What is to be angry about? IF the cashback from Lacy is good use it, if Costco, Discover, or Delta beats it use their reward cards.

This is why he is pissed.

“...new program that will help you reduce your property tax bill each year.”

It’s not reducing anything, but will make people think their taxes are lower than they really are. Then the govt can creep them up even more, because the taxpayers won’t be directly feeling the impact.

Maybe I'm not understanding correctly, as read it, it is just an alternate cash back CC where your rewards are going to taxes instead of cash back, airline miles, or Costco gift certificate.

I got married this year and put the whole thing on my Costco card, then paid it off the following month. I will be getting a very nice Costco voucher this year for doing that. If I had available one of those county cards and the rebate was equal to or competitive with Costco CC I would have used the county one and received a nice sized check from my mortgage company for the overpayment of escrow. To me cash > voucher or miles. I could then take that check and buy anything I want instead of having to use it for stuff from Costco or flights with Delta, namely my kitchen remodel.

It appears to just be an added option in your arsenal of rebate CCs. I like options, especially ones that lead to cash instead of miles.

The operative word here is "reduce." The politician is saying they are reducing your tax bill, when they are simply directing rewards towards an existing bill, which can then go up even more without opposition. Whether you pay with cash or rewards, the bill hasn't been reduced one bit.

quote:

Originally posted by sigcrazy7:

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:

quote:

Originally posted by sigcrazy7:

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:
I'm missing what you are pissed about? If I read it correctly they are offering a rebate credit card. Instead of getting airline miles, hotel stays, or cash back you get your reward in the form of tax credits. What is to be angry about? IF the cashback from Lacy is good use it, if Costco, Discover, or Delta beats it use their reward cards.

This is why he is pissed.

“...new program that will help you reduce your property tax bill each year.”

It’s not reducing anything, but will make people think their taxes are lower than they really are. Then the govt can creep them up even more, because the taxpayers won’t be directly feeling the impact.

Maybe I'm not understanding correctly, as read it, it is just an alternate cash back CC where your rewards are going to taxes instead of cash back, airline miles, or Costco gift certificate.

I got married this year and put the whole thing on my Costco card, then paid it off the following month. I will be getting a very nice Costco voucher this year for doing that. If I had available one of those county cards and the rebate was equal to or competitive with Costco CC I would have used the county one and received a nice sized check from my mortgage company for the overpayment of escrow. To me cash > voucher or miles. I could then take that check and buy anything I want instead of having to use it for stuff from Costco or flights with Delta, namely my kitchen remodel.

It appears to just be an added option in your arsenal of rebate CCs. I like options, especially ones that lead to cash instead of miles.

The operative word here is "reduce." The politician is saying they are reducing your tax bill, when they are simply directing rewards towards an existing bill, which can then go up even more without opposition. Whether you pay with cash or rewards, the bill hasn't been reduced one bit.

It does reduce the amount they are billed, it may or may not reduce the taxes owed though. If they are judicious (haha) with whatever kickbacks the CC company is giving the county then it will reduce taxes. Since we all know that 'extra' money is never used to reduce taxes it may hopefully reduce the rate of climb for the taxes.

Either way for me I would like to have an option (if competitive) to participate in that kind of program. I also like the idea of the county having an additional revenue stream that is not comprised of raising my taxes.

So really who does this program hurt? Land owners are given a way if they choose to reduce their bill at the end of the year. The county gets another revenue stream that helps increase the tax base with little or zero cost to the residents. I don't care if they piss away the new found money, use it to reduce my taxes, or invest it in something I deem worthy. In the end they have more money coming in, that I know for a fact is better than less. Especially since I know who is getting the bill if they need more money, me.

No one is losing here, period.

Since I am 65, I can fill out a very long form and have my township taxes frozen at the current rate. I will still have to pay the county tax. An incredible part of our township taxes are for the school system. 12 Million is how much our school system cost at this time. We lost over 3 million when the nuclear power plant shut down this summer. When we first move here in 1992 we paid $1,900 per year in taxes.

Auto insurance $7,000
Homeowners insurance $2,800
Flood insurance $800. No wonder we are the state with the most people leaving every year. Please remember North Jersey is the suburbs of NYC, South Jersey is more semi-rural with a lot of open land, hunting, fishing, beaches. We are a total different group of people.

quote:

No one is losing here, period.

Just the business owner that accepts the card. Everybody keeps forgetting about him.

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Originally posted by a1abdj:

quote:

No one is losing here, period.

Just the business owner that accepts the card. Everybody keeps forgetting about him.

I am not forgetting about them, CC processing fees are a fact of life and business factor those costs in when determining their prices. That is why some gas stations give a discount for those paying in cash.

quote:

Originally posted by rtquig:
…

Auto insurance $7,000
Homeowners insurance $2,800
Flood insurance $800. ...

Holy Moly!!!

Auto insurance $816
Homeowners insurance $773
Flood insurance N/A

My auto insurance is only me, I am waiting for my agent to give me a quote that puts my wife on mine. I am guessing $1,400ish when I get the quote, maybe less.

My auto insurance is for 5 of us. I should have said that up front. Full coverage on all $300,000/$500,000. This summer one turns 25 so his rates should go down. My boys pay their share, my daughter still in high school and we will pay for her. It's our choice to let her excel in studies, clubs, band activities and EMT rather that worry about paying us for insurance. She does have a part time job.


Flood insurance only came along 7 years ago when FEMA did new surveys. We didn't get flooded in Sandy, and don't need it but they force it on you.

quote:

I am not forgetting about them, CC processing fees are a fact of life and business factor those costs in when determining their prices. That is why some gas stations give a discount for those paying in cash.

Business owners pay additional fees for the rewards cards like those mentioned.

But you are right. Those costs are passed right back to the consumer, so when it's all said and done you're still paying for it yourself.

My brother that own a business in town stopped accepting American Express as he had to pay them more than Visa and Mastercard. It adds up in the end.

rtquig,

Have a good buddy that lives on Pheasant Run Rd there in Lacey. My Mom's down the road in Barnegat. Small world. LOL.

quote:

Originally posted by FN in MT:
rtquig,

Have a good buddy that lives on Pheasant Run Rd there in Lacey. My Mom's down the road in Barnegat. Small world. LOL.

How about that, it is a small world. I have lived in Lacey (Forked River) since 1974. I remember Pheasant Run being built. I usually pass through Barnegat 4-5 times a week. A lot has changed.

No, thanks. I will not add another card to my wallet (and my credit rating), debit or no. I have a bank debit card and my United Explorer Visa, with which I earn miles (230K and counting).

All these blandishments are simple come-ons. You can keep them.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
My sister and her husband live in North Jersey and are looking for a house but are getting discouraged seeing ones they like and can normally afford but with $20,000 a year property tax bills! WTF!

Tell your sister to stop being a rich diva. Thats only $1667 a month