06-04-2026 — Financial whiff fall

Howdy all. It has been an expensive week. First, I ordered that one new 6KWH battery for my EcoFlow system, and it will be here tomorrow. Even though I got it for a few hundred off, it was still over $2 thousand with taxes and such.

Then, I was surprised to see an email in a “bulk” mail folder yesterday, from the property tax people of Lake County. Surprised because usually they have my email as the “To:”, and, I wasn’t expecting it for a few more weeks. Even more surprised that when I went to the county’s pay-it-here site, the amounts looked familiar. I recall reading news item after news item, that while the taxes wouldn’t be lower for the first half (and I paid within a buck of the prior year), that savings would be seen in the second half.

Not bloody likely. Second half taxes were exactly the same as first half.

Absolutely no break at all.

There is a ballot issue that is trying to be added, by the people, to this coming election, that will totally ELIMINATE property taxes in Ohio. Based upon the lies we’ve been told over the last year, I will vote for it. I think it is an absolutely horrible idea, because property taxes fund most of the education and all of the county/city/township facilities and government.

The state legislation will have a horrific time trying to get things covered using a variety of new and increased, sales taxes and fees. But, at least they will listen to the people.

I don’t understand why my property taxes should increase more than inflation, when I gain no new benefits from it. Yes, the average price of a home has gone up 60-70% in the last five years, but, unless I sell my existing home, it is just an imaginary number. For example; if the home I bought in 2020 was worth $200,000 then, and I could afford to pay a fictional mortgage payment of $2000 a month for principle, interest, and taxes, on a fictional income of $4000 a month, why, after raises that only get my take home to $4800 after 5 years (pretty decent raises that would be), how am I expected to afford taxes on a $350,000 home? The taxes, in this fictional example, would likely have gone from $3000 to $6000 when you use both inflation and the arbitrary increase in value.

Property taxes should be tied to what was paid for the property. If I had put my down payment money into a mutual fund, and didn’t sell after 5 years, I don’t have to pay capital gains taxes on the balance each year. Only pay when you sell, based upon cost. So, if you were to tell me that I pay NO property taxes until I sell, and that I would need to pay 10-20% of the gain at that time, paying 10-20% of ($350,000-$200,000) might make sense. Of course, if I bought at $350,000, and sold at $300,000, because of market drop, I’d expect a refund of the 10-20% of the loss too.

Now none of the numbers in this example match my life, because I’m on a “FIXED” income from Social Security (and some savings too!). I get no raises other than the short-of-inflation raise each year, as the double the inflation in increases to my Medicare and other health insurances..

But moving on to a related topic, for today. I just got back from my dentist appointment. The dentist’s plan was to rip apart two adjacent teeth, back to stubs, for capping them. Turns out, that one of the two looked better than expected after he was able to clean up the existing fillings on it. It will stay a tooth, for now. The other was ground down, and now has a temporary cap. The new cap will be ready in about 3 weeks. So, my cost for today was just about half as much as expected. After the new cap is installed, an appointment to rip out the old bridge, and try to safe the two teeth below, will be set. A new bridge would be around $1200. But, if either, or both, of the underlying teeth have to be extracted and implants put in, the cost could jump to as much as $4500-$5000 dependent upon insurance coverage. UGH!

On a slightly brighter note, the garden is mostly coming along.

Strawberries are ripening. And I tried one, which was fantastic. Sweet and tart. Yummy

I pulled one of the carrot plants that managed to survive winter. A three foot long plant, above a two inch stubby, hairy (roots) carrot. Not good eats.

And then there was this disappointment. I was wondering why none of the flower seeds I tossed into the beds hadn’t produced flowers. Well it appears some critter or critters, have been eating the tops and leaves. I’m growing a crop of sticks!!

Oh, and there were quite a few strawberries with bites on them. Hey, at least my neighborhood critters are having a fine feast and can Enjoy Life