Are Libertarians gaining traction in Central Virginia?

Based on the recent press for Arin Sime, perhaps so, including this editorial from the Daily Progress

The most honest, positive and straightforward political ads this season, with issues and positions spelled out in plain English, without highly selective, emotional attacks, appear to be those of Libertarians.

The ads can be seen as honest and positive “because it’s 100 percent ideology,” Saxman said. “In politics, purity can equal honesty.”

Arin Sime on property taxes:

One of the most onerous parts of Virginia tax code is how your home is assessed and taxed. All around our Commonwealth, property values have gone up dramatically, often averaging 30% or more. While this sounds good for the value of your home, it also means your local government will charge you drastically more in taxes unless they make significant cuts in the tax rate. Most localities will make a small cut in the tax rate, yet due to the rising assessments, you are still paying significantly more in taxes!

Setting the local tax rate is the prerogative of your local government. But tying this tax rate to your property’s rising assessment is required by our state Constitution. It’s time that Virginia changes the method of local taxation from an assessment based system to an “acquisition value based” tax system. Under a bill considered in the 2007 General Assembly (and killed by a Republican House of Delegates committee), your tax assessment would be limited to increases of 1% per year plus the rate of inflation. If your local government feels they need more money than that, they will have to be more open in their desire and raise your tax rate, instead of claiming they are cutting the tax rate even though your tax bill is going up.

This is an interesting and related post from the Real Estate Bloggers – Taxes and real estate – how do they affect each other?

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Rick Sincere

The benefits of embracing transparency are huge.

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