From now on, I am John Data Center
I have just sent in the second half of my property tax bill, plus 200-some more dollars because I was a few days late with the first payment, and I will cut to the chase and express my opinion here: It's too much!
I have spent 30 years struggling to pay my mortgage as I reared three children, and I looked forward to the day that monthly burden would be paid off and I would have a decent amount of discretionary funds.
Yet now that I am retired and my mortgage is paid off, real estate prices in Columbus have skyrocketed, and I find myself owing a tax burden that is equal to five months of my old mortgage!
While I understand that taxes pay for a good many necessary things, I also read in the paper that companies are getting tax abatements of 40 years.
Perhaps if I declared myself a data center, I would see some relief.
In the past, Gov. John Kasich and the legislature have congratulated themselves on reducing the state income tax and slashing monies given to municipalities. And currently, the party in power is sitting on its hands as a disproportionate amount of the tax burden falls on homeowners.
It is well and good that my property has increased in value, but unless I wish to sell it tomorrow, which I do not, this increase in value has led to a decrease in my financial security.
I just may seek out the petition to eliminate the property tax and sign it because I see a legislature that can easily pass laws about trans athletes and easier gun possession, but it cannot do anything to truly help the homeowners of Ohio.
John Vazquez, Columbus
Cinderella down
Re "March Madness underdogs can’t survive greed," July 26: There will be no Cinderella anymore.
I've been watching college basketball all my life and live in the Dayton area. I've read college basketball articles for the last year, and there are never any articles on mid-majors. Every article is about Duke, Kentucky, UConn, Michigan and so on. All the pundits are trying to convince us that college basketball is in a great place. A super league with budgets we can't imagine is the future and the ruination of one of the best and purest sports of all time.
Louis Conn, Germantown
I couldn't believe my eyes
Re "Coleman to CSCC: Pause tax proposal," July 23: Former Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman is the voice of reason regarding the proposed tax levy from Columbus State Community College. I could not believe my eyes when I read the article about this tax proposal. While there may be good intentions surrounding this levy, it certainly needs more discussion before being placed on the November ballot.
Carol Britt, Hilliard
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: If I change my name to John Q. Data Center, can I pay less in property taxes? | Letters
