Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan states the country is “flirting” with deflation.” Our property taxes have just gone up 44 percent, 581 percent over the last 26 years. Where is deflation when we need it?

The revaluation appeals process was a sham. One appealed to the same people who set the valuation. Of course they’re not going to change it down; their employer would lose out.

Article 4 of the U.S. Constitution’s Bill of Rights states: “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated.“ How can we be secure in our houses when we’re subject to legalized extortion (seizures) annually by our fiscally inept local governments who can’t live within their means? A whopping 581 percent in 26 years can’t be fairly said to be a reasonable rate of increase.

California took care of that problem with Proposition 13, which rolled back property taxes by substantial margins and limited dollar increases to the Consumer Price Index, not anywhere near 581 percent in 26 years!

Not only is the current increase unreasonable, but it’s not equitable as well. Farmers, thanks to their powerful lobby, are taxed by “use.” Urban dwellers, because they’re diverse, have different values and goals, have a hard time coalescing around issues, and are taxed arbitrarily on a zoning basis (which can be fiddled) rather than use.

Vincent H. Chase

Pinehurst