A new Tax

So, DH and I came up with something that we all should lobby for...

A "messy tax"

if you have a gross outside of house, you stand to be taxed on it.

what do you think?

it would be no more looking out your front window and seeing a crappy house across the street!

Re: A new Tax

Who determines what is "messy"? I knew neighbors years ago that actually vacuumed their lawn... (and they rented the house, not owned it...). If they got to decide what is messy, every person who did not vacuum their yard every day would be taxed.

Re: A new Tax

it's simple.

Grass higher than a certain amount of inches.
more cars parked in the driveway than there are people living there for a long period of time. (which is already in many towns agains ordinances, but nobody monitors this unless there is a complaint made)

doors hanging off of hinges.
garbage cans full of garbage not being brought to curb on garbage days.
foul dog poop (or other animal) odors that can be sniffed outside.

UNSAFE trees not being maintained (as what happened in another post).

We need a police to for this, but boy could towns make a lot of money and hopefully drop some of our taxes for being neat and clean...

Message edited 8/7/2008 8:55:00 AM.

Re: A new Tax

Wow... you are tough!!! I am glad I am not your neighboor. I mow my grass 1 time per week on Friday. With all this rain it's really tall and we are still 2 days before cutting time.

Re: A new Tax

Posted by smdl

Wow... you are tough!!! I am glad I am not your neighboor. I mow my grass 1 time per week on Friday. With all this rain it's really tall and we are still 2 days before cutting time.

Re: A new Tax

I know a lot of towns have rules about some of these, but sometimes they can get a little oppressive and invasive. It also becomes a slippery slope. Everything you're mentioning now makes sense and is logical, but it usually progresses too far. All front doors must be wood, red, or white. All houses must have a picket fence in front. I fully understand your frustration, and your intent, but when people or a group of people get power, it usually goes to their heads, and they overstep their original charter.

I had surgery recently, so I couldn't push the mower for a few weeks. I would get a fine, or have to pay someone to cut my grass just because I had a temporary disability?

Taller grass is usually healthier, especially in the summer, and ornamental grass is supposed to be tall. I saw a "Today Show Tips" episode where a "professional" landscaper showed some of his eco-friendly landscaping ideas, and it looked horribly overgrown and in terrible shape. However, it would have cost a homeowner several hundred, or thousands of dollars to have that "professional" look.

I agree with your intentions, but I think it would spiral out of control in some areas...

Re: A new Tax

I'm in.

I'll be lenient on the length of grass to accomodate for the short term disability previously mentioned.

I would also like to add "Teenaged boys with 3 or more friends coming and going daily around the clock and parking in front and on the side of other people's homes continually while not parking in front of the host's home" should also be taxed.

Re: A new Tax

Re: A new Tax

Move to Northport Village! They are crazy with their rules.

Message edited 8/7/2008 10:13:28 AM.

Re: A new Tax

Posted by jam11308

Posted by rkoenke

more cars parked in the driveway than there are people living there for a long period of time. (which is already in many towns agains ordinances, but nobody monitors this unless there is a complaint made)

We have 3 cars between the 2 of us. One is a "beater" too - it's an OLD Bronco that my dh uses in the bad weather when it would be dangerous to use his "regular" car...we also used to tow the boat with it. If you guys have your way, would we need to apply for a special permit for it in your neighborhood?

Re: A new Tax

Ehh, well, we'd be taxed because we have no time to worry about the outside this year since we still have so much to do on the inside. Don't get me wrong, we mow our brown grass and water our dead flowers, and all, but it's still an eyesore

Re: A new Tax

Posted by prncss

Ehh, well, we'd be taxed because we have no time to worry about the outside this year since we still have so much to do on the inside. Don't get me wrong, we mow our brown grass and water our dead flowers, and all, but it's still an eyesore

Re: A new Tax

My parents had 7 kids - you should have seen their driveway when the majority of us were in highschool! It looked like a constant party

The rules you are talking about are often part of a homeowners association within a planned development. I think it is fine for that type of development, but not for a town at large.

Things happent that are beyond your control, money gets tight and those types of things are certainly not priorities when times are tough. I agree with the previous poster that it would too easily become a slippery slope. I think it would be a case of too much gov't and I really wouldn't want to waste police resources on making sure Mrs. Jones fixes the hinges on her door.

Re: A new Tax

I don't agree with this, its a slippery slope as a PP mentioned. You may think the grass is too high, but your neighbor might want it higher - its better for the environment. You might not like the garbage not brought to the curb, but maybe the HO forgot or was in a rush that morning.