Ol_Rancher
Recycles dryer sheets
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2004
- Messages
- 188
I just read a story in the Austin American Statesman about the soon to be annexed Lost Creek Subdivision. The median home in the neighborhood is $379,000 and the taxes on a house at that appraisal level will be $9,975.
I left when my house reached $6600 a year on a $287,000 appraisal in an upscale neighborhood called Rollingwood located in the same school district.
The latest flap in Austin and San Antonio is the plan to widen arteries into each city, add 'fly overs' at the worst intersections, and make them toll roads. Bear in mind that the roads already exist and were paid for with gasoline taxes. The expected toll with be $0.75 per mile if all construction comes in on time and budget. This will cost most commuters $80 - $120 per month. Living in most suburbs or exurbs will be very expensive. Gasoline at $3 and all other automotive costs will of course be part of the commuters budget.
Who can afford this ?
No teachers, state workers, municipal workers, or tradesmen can retire in Austin or Travis county for long before they are driven out by high taxes.
I blame the tsunami of Californian tech people and speculators, as well as the tax & spend liberal city councils for the demise of the once unique character of Austin. The mantra of those who have a vision of Austin's future is "high density downtown residential and retail" ...
Toll roads as a solution to the day long near grid lock traffic, is a cruel joke.
The quality of life there is declining so fast that it breaks my heart to return on the occasional visit to friends and see the changes.
Is it this bad elsewhere?
I left when my house reached $6600 a year on a $287,000 appraisal in an upscale neighborhood called Rollingwood located in the same school district.
The latest flap in Austin and San Antonio is the plan to widen arteries into each city, add 'fly overs' at the worst intersections, and make them toll roads. Bear in mind that the roads already exist and were paid for with gasoline taxes. The expected toll with be $0.75 per mile if all construction comes in on time and budget. This will cost most commuters $80 - $120 per month. Living in most suburbs or exurbs will be very expensive. Gasoline at $3 and all other automotive costs will of course be part of the commuters budget.
Who can afford this ?
No teachers, state workers, municipal workers, or tradesmen can retire in Austin or Travis county for long before they are driven out by high taxes.
I blame the tsunami of Californian tech people and speculators, as well as the tax & spend liberal city councils for the demise of the once unique character of Austin. The mantra of those who have a vision of Austin's future is "high density downtown residential and retail" ...
Toll roads as a solution to the day long near grid lock traffic, is a cruel joke.
The quality of life there is declining so fast that it breaks my heart to return on the occasional visit to friends and see the changes.
Is it this bad elsewhere?