Reader: By design, tax levies deceive

We the voters are told that the levies are a replacement for an expiring levy, that the rate will be the same or perhaps there will be a slight increase.

But what does this really mean?

The rate may not change, or may change a small amount, but the property tax assessment base changes, sometimes radically.

In recent years Grant County has experienced unprecedented 4-year property tax increases, between 32 percent and 120 percent, averaging 76 percent.

Levies are tied directly to property taxes. When property taxes go up, the levy dollar amount goes up by the same percentage that the property taxes increased.

If your levy dollar amount in 2008 was $100 and your property taxes increased 76 percent, in 2012 you would pay $176, or $76 more than you did in 2008.

The levy rate didn't change but you still pay more because the levy base (property taxes) changed.

Dale Hellewell,

Royal City