Our group has been told that there’s no precedence in overturning a referendum that has passed by the voters. Background… School Board put on ballot a referendum asking voters for $88 million to build a new school. Vote passed on a very slim margin. They advertised this referendum would cost taxpayers $0.12 per $1000 fair market /equalized value of property in district. The state of WI bumped property values to the tune of roughly 25% which in turn changed that $0.12 to $1.99. Our demographic is mainly retired people and low income More shady things happening but looking specifically to see if any other districts.. anywhere in US have had their school board referendum overturned in a court of law due to defrauding the voters.
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I would look for some kind of violation of process to get it turfed on a technicality if at all possible - plenty of precedent for that.
This is probably the best approach
If there is no precedence that means you all would be the trailblazers.
Just venting a bit, but I hate that "precedence" bullshit. Seems like such a copout to me for anyone trying to make their own decision.
It is a persuasion technique used to demoralize. Being the first to challenge something that is unjust is actually an advantage because there are many ways to take down something like this due to a technicality.
I would get 1000 signatures saying they oppose this maneuver and sue.
Money talks both ways
I know my city is raising the property tax here in Ohio based on the increased value of property, despite the fact that we all know this is another fucking bubble. This shit comes at a time when businesses and regular working folks are still trying to recover from all the shutdowns in an economy that hasn't been this bad in 40-plus years. Money grabs. It's always about the fucking money.
I don't know what's in store for our school system but I do know there's talk of another round of money needed for it as well.
Hey now, it's the best economy Jim Cramer has seen in his entire life!
Is this a case of appraisal fraud?
https://www.thebalancemoney.com/what-is-appraisal-fraud-5225882
Maybe you could look into where they are buying the land. If the landowner, appraiser and school board are dirty this could be a way to scam the local government out of money and they split the profit among themselves.
A jump from 0.12 to 1.99 is big.
I'm not sure if the state or municipal areas / local boards govern appraisals. I think similar shenanigans happened in metropolitan areas near DC.
Does WI have Dominion voting machines? Why not try to replace the school board members when the next election happens. Then when that Patriot is seated, have him or her begin dialogue to reduce the tax burden while at the School Board meetings. How about going to School Board meetings and seeing if you can address the SB and ask for a reduction of the tax. Maybe go to the County Seat and see if the "tax man" is willing to sunset some fifty to one hundred year old taxes? Ask the school board how many students are enrolled TODAY compared to a few years ago. Then ask the SB if there are fewer students why a new school is necessary. Do you have a lot of like minded citizens? If yes then get them together and go address the school board. If nobody wants to get involved then you are pissing into the wind. Gotta have a lot of folks on your side in order to make a solid push back. I wish you the best.
This doesn't sound like the school board being shady. They estimated the cost to be $0.12 and that's probably accurate.
It sounds like separately the property values have increased, and the local government is catching up with the market. It's not uncommon for the government to only update their property value records every few years.
You're conflating the additional increase recommended by the school board and approved by the voters with what I presume to be a regular adjustment in the local taxation authority's property value records. Property values have been going up, so property taxes have too 🤷♂️.
It sucks to have to pay more, but it's not your local government's fault. It's the real estate market, which gets a big boost from the Fed .
It sounds like the school board being Democrat.
Maybe. But if the area has rising property values that could also mean rising population and new families moving in. A new school may be needed to accommodate more students.
These budget increases and ballot measures would be a heck of a lot easier to swallow if schools stayed in their lane and taught the basics instead of spending half their time pushing pronouns and woke, commie indoctrination.
There is most definately precident. This is how they get more money. Most likely thr company that did the eval has done it before. Get the signatures. you need.
What is a tax abatement"> Tax Abatement
What is a tax abatement, you may ask. A tax abatement is when a taxing board grants a taxpayer a stay of paying a tax for a short or long term, for a total or percentage of the tax. They are given for any reason, like for the building of a new building to increase employment. A company having financial problems. Non profit groups, "churches, boy scout camp sites, etc". I have found private homes for questionable reasons.
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How do you get a property tax abatement? First you file a F.O.I.A. " Freedom of Information act." File it with your taxing board. (Township, city, county or state) The question you ask is; "Requesting to see the records of property that is now or in the past that have received tax abatements." Pick out the ones that have been given the most and the longest time. Get copies of the ones you want. There may be a charge for copying. They, by law have to give you the information.
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Now that you have the copies in your hand, copy the first five or six pages of each of the U.S. Supreme Court cases in this section or any other ones you may find elsewhere. Read these cases very carefully, you will have to know what they mean. They are cases where the Supreme Court has said, they cannot do for one and not the other. You are the other. Get copies of the Fifth and Fourteenth amendment, they refer to this. If you do not understand them, get someone to help you who does. Now make two copes of all the documents you have. The copies will go to the tax assessor. One for the assessor and the other for their attorney. You now have the material you need to get your tax abatement.
At this point if you are not competent to do this, STOP HERE!!!! If you do not do it right, you will NOT get your tax abatement. If you are not ready to go to court if you fail, STOP NOW. .
Go to the taxing authority and confront them with what you have. Ask for the rebate of your choice. give them copies of the material you have collected. It makes no difference why they gave the abatement to someone else, they still have to give one to you. Let them know if you go to court and win, everyone will be able to get one. Is the chance worth it?
. You are entitled to any privilege they give to any other citizen.
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Slaughter-House cases. 83 U.S. 36., (1872)
Here is a case that has four cases in one. It talks about prohibiting people from using their land, and giving that right to a corporation. The government cannot take a right from you and give it to another. Part of the case, was New Orleans had set up a large area to slaughter farm animals. This gave the corporation the exclusive right to slaughter all farm animals in the parishes of Orleans, Jefferson, and St. Bernard. And a land owner could not sell animals or produce from his private land. This is a 5th and 14th Amendment and Article 1 section 10 VIOLATION. "No Title of Nobility shall be granted"
GIBBONS v. OGDEN, 22 U.S. 1 (1824)
The acts of the Legislature of the State of New York, granting to Robert R. Livingston and Robert Fulton the exclusive navigation of all the waters within the jurisdiction of that, with boats moved by fire or steam, for a term of years.
Lakewood v. Plain Dealer Publishing Co,. 486 U.S. 750 (1988)
Here we find another pick and choose as to who will get the favors of the government.
Columbia v. Omni Outdoor Advertising 449 U.S. (1991)
The city fathers wanted to have one sign company to put up all of the signs in the City of Columbia, South Carolina. So this is another loss for the great leaders of our local government. They don't seem to realize our U. S. Constitution is for equality, and not a buddy system.
Leathers v. Medlock,. 499 U.S. 439 (1991)
Another case of playing favorites. This one is about taxes. It seems that the state of Arkansas wanted to charge Mr. Medlock taxes on his cable television subscribers and not on newspapers and magazines. They all three entertain, give out news, do advertising so they should pay equal taxes. Newspapers and magazines could do good for elected officials. If your taxing authority is giving a land owner a free ride and charging you. If you are paying property taxes, I think you should put yourself in Mr. Medlock's place and get what is yours. There is no lawful law that allows discrimination.
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https://web.archive.org/web/20130308074101/http://www.landrights.com/tax_abatement.htm
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For what it is worth, I personally feel that Dominion sued Lindell, Powell and others for Billions, because they make Billions getting referendums through.
The Dominion sales rep can "guarantee" referendums get passed. School Boards and districts soak up hundreds of millions, and they throw it all on the tax papers. "Well, you voted for it."
Did they really? 🤔
Talk about a massive money laundering operation. Many schools have referendums of this size, $88 million plus or minus. Multiply that by every district in the country and you can see how much money this could be.
Follow the money.
If they are willing to steal presidential elections, they sure as hell would steal referendums.
All just my personal opinion. No sauce.
Several options, I recommend you band with local GOP office for organization and funding to push them all
State and local treasurer offices - talk with them and determine if either is willing to challenge, based on integrity of budget, integrity of plan, ENROLLMENT numbers, etc. A good treasurer will use the power of the office to publicize and block unwise spending.
Check local laws on challenges to referenda, versus recalls for school board members. Decide which would get you more traction- challenging for a recount (in which case you work with whatever PAC would help pay for recounts and canvassing) or recalling the worst school board members (must have based candidates ready to replace, if already exist then with with their campaign to inform and gather signatures).
Rally the retirees to swarm local and state officials' offices with complaints, appeals, calls, letters, everything. Local GOP should be able to help get volunteers to reach out to all affected homes with forms and envelopes ready to mail, printed (large type) phone lists and email addresses of local and state reps, and arm them with appeals info about their taxes/appraisals, as well as the school spending impact. They don't even have kids in school! Never underestimate the power of retired people to overwhelm the system.
Reach out to homeschool local and state groups, also HSLDA (Homeschool Legal Defense Association), for data and other options, such as canvassing support.
Also, homeschool. 😁
True this. We suffered a 400.00 increase in our property tax. My wife and I down voted this and the teachers are crowing about the new schools and hiring more teachers. Total scam. I'm so sick of getting ripped off. WE CAN'T PAY FOR EVERYTHING!
No doubt they cheat on referendums too.
I've never yet to see a referendum that HASN'T passed. I recall 3 or so in my community within the last 15 years. 2 in the last 10. I feel as though they're on the cusp of yet another, I'm certain of it. When don't they ask for more money?
It would be nice if the average household - which definitely doesn't use their property FOR PROFIT - would have the same tax-free benefits as non-profit organizations and churches do - that DO use their property to raise money and pay staff salaries for secretaries, priests, pastors, etcetera.