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A
few footnotes
by JUDY HODGSON
The Journal's Proposition
13 cover story ("Corrosive
Force," July 17) certainly elicited interesting letters
and some phone calls, one from my real estate friend who opposed
the initiative in 1978 but is an enthusiastic supporter today.
"My opinion is precisely
the opposite [of yours]," he said, referring to my comment
that the current system "taxes enterprise" by reassessing
a house at the current market value when it is remodeled.
Prior to Proposition 13, he
reminded me, it was common for homeowners to spend money fixing
up the inside of their homes but seldom the exterior, leaving
the sagging porch and peeling paint to fool the assessor.
Today, homeowners can perform
maintenance, repair and certain upgrades without fear of the
taxman as long as they are careful, he said.
"You can replace a pier-and-post
foundation one year, reroof the next, rewire, maybe later change
out the windows -- all without triggering a reappraisal as long
as you spread the work out."
Just a tip in case you planning
on remodeling soon.
No surprises out of Sacramento
these days. I was there for a few days again last week and the
top story in Wednesday's Sacramento Bee was not Odai and
Qusai, but the governor's recall chances. Although the Journal
editorialized against the recall last week -- unpopularity,
ineptness, aloofness aren't exactly crimes -- it appears likely
that the governor will be booted and both parties better have
a plan.
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