Growls

For their January 15, 2010 issue, Forbes magazine ranked the top five counties in each of four national geographic areas on annual property taxes (story here and list here). Using the 2008 U.S. Census American Community Survey, the top five counties in the south were:

                                                        Annual                               Median                     Median
                                                    Property Tax                Household Income      Home Value 

Loudoun County, Virginia        $4,844                            $110,643                    $529,300
Fairfax County, Virginia          $4,616                            $106,785                    $556,100
Arlington County, Virginia        $4,557                            $96,390                     $586,200
Collin County, Texas                $4,404                             $81,200                     $197,000
Fort Ben County, Texas            $4,193                            $81,456                      $169,800

In closing the article, Forbes’ reporters wrote:

“High property taxes, in addition to providing extra local services, often compensate for low sales or income taxes, which, says Youngman, works fine during boom times but disproportionately affects struggling homeowners in recessions. But swinging the pendulum in the opposite direction isn't necessarily the answer, either. An even balance of revenue sources can avoid unduly burdening one segment of the population.”

As we've growled numerous times, Arlington County provides ordinary services at extraordinary prices.