OT: Meridian update

[beachbumdawg]

http://forums.sixpackspeak.com/showthread.php?103436-OT-Moving-back-to-Our-State&highlight=Meridian

mother17er Meridian is proud of their property...3x the property taxes I pay in Jefferson County, AL for an equivalent house...homes in NEL district...looks like everyone is fleeing (realize some of those are NAS)...but damn, it appears briarwood / eagle point...everyone s like 17 this and bolting...kinda throws a red flag...any locals have input?

just lost out on house in WL district (desired location).....so now I may have to broaden my search to other areas such as NEL as my house in Birmingham is scheduled to close on the 31st

 

[HammerOfTheDogs]

The population of Lauderdale county is increasing, but Meridian keeps shrinking. At one time, Meridian used to be the largest city in the State. In 1960, they had a population of 49,000. In 1970, it was 46,000. Now it's in the 35,000 range.

I know that Meridian had a lot of backwards attitudes towards new businesses coming in. For example, Meridian didn't get a WalMart until 1985- and it was out by Bonita, on a winding back road off the Hwy. 19 exit (where the Sams Club is now). There was a lot of weeping and knashing of teeth when Kroger came in in 1980- but Kroger and WalMart put a lot of TG&Y's, Howards, Big Stars, and Sears out of business.

 

[BigMotherTucker]

Meridian just annexed everything out to (and including) Briarwood. That's why there is a mass exodus in that area.

I agree about the taxes. I live inside the city and my taxes are through the 17ing roof.

 

[Philly Dawg]

You can't always compare property taxes between states....

but should instead compare the total tax burden. States that have no or low income tax often have high property taxes and vice versa. Having said that, my guess is that Meridian's property taxes are still high compared to most of the rest of the state.

 

[Hypnodawg]

Meridian has as corrupt a government as you will find. Lots of fleecing of the local landowners. You seriously wouldn't believe some of the bs they have gotten away with. The city council and the mayor(s) should be in prison.

If you don't mind commuting a bit, Dalewood is a nice area to live (really more of a retirement area). Its a little past Briarwood. I'm renting out a small house on a small lake there, but I'd rather sell it.

 

[dudehead]

Meridian has as corrupt a government as you will find. Lots of fleecing of the local landowners. You seriously wouldn't believe some of the bs they have gotten away with. The city council and the mayor(s) should be in prison.

If you don't mind commuting a bit, Dalewood is a nice area to live (really more of a retirement area). Its a little past Briarwood. I'm renting out a small house on a small lake there, but I'd rather sell it.

I'm curious to know what are some of the things these people did. Please elaborate.

 

[HammerOfTheDogs]

I'm curious to know what are some of the things these people did. Please elaborate.

Me too.

 

[Shmuley]

Dude, check back often. I'm sure he'll respond.

 

[Hypnodawg]

Meridian has pulled several crazy deals dumping it on the property owners. I've forgotten all the intricacies of it, but they basically gave away the 3 foot building and then bought it back for several million dollars. It cost more to build an open air barn in Meridian than a larger fully enclosed air conditioned building in Philadelphia (a lot more). There was some sort of shenanigans with the super Walmart. Again, its been decades since I lived there, but the amount of corruption in that city is astounding. Its probably the same everywhere, I just happened to know a lot of the players there.

 

[GhostOfJackie]

Meridian lacks young people. Young professionals. There is just not enough new blood to get things going. It's got a high crime problem and lacks any type of responsible leadership. No idea why the taxes are high but I'll bet it has a lot to do with the fact that the city is desperate for money because a low number of people in the city actually pay taxes (low income). I think Meridian is a beautiful city, it just needs some fixing.

 

[RocketDawg]

What do you call "high" regarding property taxes? I live in Madison, AL, a suburban town of about 45,000 on the west side of Huntsville. My property tax is about $2K on a house worth about $350K. Is that comparable Birmingham? If so, does that mean my house in Meridian would have $6000 taxes?

I used to live in Meridian (grew up there) but once I graduated from MSU I never went back to live. I don't recall taxes being an issue then, but that was many years ago.

 

[beachbumdawg]

What do you call "high" regarding property taxes? I live in Madison, AL, a suburban town of about 45,000 on the west side of Huntsville. My property tax is about $2K on a house worth about $350K. Is that comparable Birmingham? If so, does that mean my house in Meridian would have $6000 taxes?

I used to live in Meridian (grew up there) but once I graduated from MSU I never went back to live. I don't recall taxes being an issue then, but that was many years ago.

Based on some listing and depending on location :4000-5500

 

[FlabLoser]

Wow. Dallas, TX area property tax was roughly 1% when I lived there and they don't even have income tax.

 

[RocketDawg]

That pretty high for the South

It's no wonder people are leaving. They're pricing themselves out of existence. There's a good balance point between taxes of any sort (including income) what people are willing to endure. That's why people are leaving California and New York. They might actually have more income if they lowered the taxes to a reasonable level.

Does Mississippi have an income tax?

 

[Bro Montana]

My kid had a tournament a few weeks ago in Meridian and one thing I noticed is that it has to be the stoplight capital of Mississippi. Don't think I've ever seen so many on every street corner, and this is coming from someone who commutes down Lakeland to downtown Jacktown every day.

 

[beachbumdawg]

It's no wonder people are leaving. They're pricing themselves out of existence. There's a good balance point between taxes of any sort (including income) what people are willing to endure. That's why people are leaving California and New York. They might actually have more income if they lowered the taxes to a reasonable level.

Does Mississippi have an income tax?

Yes MS has an income tax
Income Tax Rates (Miss. Code Ann. Section 27-7-5)


3% on the first $5,000 of taxable income
4% on the next $5,000 of taxable income
5% on taxable income in excess of $10,000

 

[Dawg1976]

That's probably about right. I lived in Eagle Pointe before the annexation and paid around $1600 in taxes on a $230k home 10 years ago. I was told by the city that taxes would go up to around $2500 after the annexation. So I bailed and sold the house. Been hanging around in a small house to look after my mother but she has recently passed away. No family around so no need to stay. Lived here some 50+ years but due to high taxes and crime, no need to hang around.

 

[dudehead]

Based on some listing and depending on location :4000-5500

My home in Meridian appraised for $375,000 for a recent refinance. My 2012 city taxes were $887, my school taxes were $1,040, and my county taxes were $735.

I think it's wrong that county residents don't pay city taxes but city residents pay county taxes, especially when most county residents work in the city and use and benefit from city infrastructure and economic base every day. I support unification of our city and county governments like Nashville, Denver, etc. But, given our southern provincial "slowness" to change (after all, we are the most conservative state in the country), I suspect any changes to a more efficient government structure may come about by January 1, 2234. But that is another issue for another thread.

 

[beachbumdawg]

My home in Meridian appraised for $375,000 for a recent refinance. My 2012 city taxes were $887, my school taxes were $1,040, and my county taxes were $735.

I think it's wrong that county residents don't pay city taxes but city residents pay county taxes, especially when most county residents work in the city and use and benefit from city infrastructure and economic base every day. I support unification of our city and county governments like Nashville, Denver, etc. But, given our southern provincial "slowness" to change (after all, we are the most conservative state in the country), I suspect any changes to a more efficient government structure may come about by January 1, 2234. But that is another issue for another thread.

Appraised value =/= tax assessed value

 

[NCDawg.sixpack]

My home in Meridian appraised for $375,000 for a recent refinance. My 2012 city taxes were $887, my school taxes were $1,040, and my county taxes were $735.

I think it's wrong that county residents don't pay city taxes but city residents pay county taxes, especially when most county residents work in the city and use and benefit from city infrastructure and economic base every day. I support unification of our city and county governments like Nashville, Denver, etc. But, given our southern provincial "slowness" to change (after all, we are the most conservative state in the country), I suspect any changes to a more efficient government structure may come about by January 1, 2234. But that is another issue for another thread.

Your house was appraised at $375,000.00 in Meridian? You must live in a mansion. When I lived there, I remember it used to be some beautiful homes along Poplar Springs Drive by the the high school and a lot of beautiful homes in the Northwood area, but I doubt any o them would appraise for that much now.

 

[patdog]

A good portion of the county taxes you pay is forwarded to the city by the county for road construction & maintenance. Also, you do receive services from both the city and the county. If you ever need to go to court, you will go to a county court, which is paid for by your county taxes. Also, many economic development projects go through the county, not the city.

 

[dudehead]

All more reasons why city and county should be unified

A good portion of the county taxes you pay is forwarded to the city by the county for road construction & maintenance. Also, you do receive services from both the city and the county. If you ever need to go to court, you will go to a county court, which is paid for by your county taxes. Also, many economic development projects go through the county, not the city.

.

 

[patdog]

Not arguing whether they should or shouldn't. But it is fair for you to pay both county and city taxes as long as they aren't. The county residents that use city services do pay sales tax and a portion of that is forwarded to the city by the state.

 

[beachbumdawg]

Any thoughts on Kings Farm Subdivision and Poplar Ridge Subdivision ?

 

[dudehead]

But it is fair for you to pay both county and city taxes as long as they aren't.

I don't understand this statement. I agree it is ins't fair for a city resident to pay both and county resident to pay only county taxes.

I know the county spends some money in the city and that city residents benefit from county services like some street paving and our courts. But city residents pay county taxes.

I think county residents should pay city taxes because they likewise receive benefits from city services like driving on streets paved by the city, using parks and recreation facilities owned by the city, etc. But they don't have to.

You eliminate all of this mess by unification of government, which under the MS Constitution, would probably mean dissolving the city and merging it into the county.

 

[johnson86-1]

I don't understand this statement. I agree it is ins't fair for a city resident to pay both and county resident to pay only county taxes.

I know the county spends some money in the city and that city residents benefit from county services like some street paving and our courts. But city residents pay county taxes.

I think county residents should pay city taxes because they likewise receive benefits from city services like driving on streets paved by the city, using parks and recreation facilities owned by the city, etc. But they don't have to.

You eliminate all of this mess by unification of government, which under the MS Constitution, would probably mean dissolving the city and merging it into the county.

Terrible idea in Mississippi. Think about the **** city governments would pull if citizens didn't have the option of fleeing to the county.

Plus, what services do people from the county use that they don't pay for? They're not entitled to send their kids to city schools or to receive city water or sewer service, police or fire protection . They basically get to drive on the roads and I guess get to use public parks and stuff like that. Doesn't seem like a whole lot of freeloading going on.

 

[codeDawg]

It's no wonder people are leaving. They're pricing themselves out of existence. There's a good balance point between taxes of any sort (including income) what people are willing to endure. That's why people are leaving California and New York. They might actually have more income if they lowered the taxes to a reasonable level.

Does Mississippi have an income tax?

I imagine that some people are leaving NY and CA for cost of living reasons, but both are net growing in population, and the most growth is happening in the metropolitan areas, which would have higher taxes than the more rural areas.

 

[ababyatemydingo]

I don't understand this statement. I agree it is ins't fair for a city resident to pay both and county resident to pay only county taxes.

I know the county spends some money in the city and that city residents benefit from county services like some street paving and our courts. But city residents pay county taxes.

I think county residents should pay city taxes because they likewise receive benefits from city services like driving on streets paved by the city, using parks and recreation facilities owned by the city, etc. But they don't have to.

Civics 101: Everyone pays county taxes (because everyone lives IN the county) City residents pay those county taxes (pretty sure its at a lower millage rate because city resident don't have to fund the lauderdale county school system), in addition to city taxes, because in return for paying those city taxes, they receive services like garbage collection, fire protection, police protection, city streets paved (sporadically), a very large public school system, city government employees salaries paid, incentives paid to bring in new business, etc, etc, etc.

 

[patdog]

How can you possibly not understand? If you live in a city, you receive services from both the city AND the county. County residents only receive services from the county. If city residents didn't pay county taxes, the county residents would be subsidizing the county services that the city residents receive and the city residents would be receiving them for free. How would that be fair? If you don't like paying both taxes, why did you choose to live in a city? County residents do generally receive some services from the city when they work and shop in the city, but those county residents also pay sales taxes (which go to the city and not the county) and their place of employment pays city taxes.

 

[dudehead]

How can you possibly not understand? If you live in a city, you receive services from both the city AND the county. County residents only receive services from the county. If city residents didn't pay county taxes, the county residents would be subsidizing the county services that the city residents receive and the city residents would be receiving them for free. How would that be fair? If you don't like paying both taxes, why did you choose to live in a city? County residents do generally receive some services from the city when they work and shop in the city, but those county residents also pay sales taxes (which go to the city and not the county) and their place of employment pays city taxes.

I recognize that I receive county services. I'm not arguing that I should not pay county taxes. I am arguing that county residents receive benefits from city services for which they do not pay. Many metropolitan areas have addressed this with cities imposing city income taxes. This makes those who do not live in the city contribute to the payment of city services of which they benefit. I am not proposing that but rather proposing that we eliminate two governments and simply have one to which we all contribute and from which we all benefit. Consolidation would mean Meridian goes away and all government and government services consolidate under the City and County of Lauderdale. We wind up with less government, more efficient delivery of local government services, and a more equitable sharing of the cost for those services.

 

[patdog]

Again, county residents do pay sales taxes in the city and if they work in the city, their employer pays city taxes. So the city does get revenue from residents of the county. I understand that you want to consolidate the city and county, and I'm not arguing that should or shouldn't be done. But the fact is, they are not consolidated, and as long as that is the case, it is completely fair for city residents to pay both city and county taxes.

 

[dudehead]

I don't think the millage rate is lower, but I may be wrong about that. I believe the county school tax is a separate item (not a part of the county tax amount I pay) that is assessed to and collected from county landowners that are not in the city. In short, I don't pay a county school tax because I live in the city.

 

[ababyatemydingo]

I am arguing that county residents receive benefits from city services for which they do not pay.

Specifics on this statement, pleas?. I cant' think of a single government service that county residents receive from city government. Outside of calling the cops if they are robbed while shopping or working inside the city limits. City "services" that are funded by tax revenue = public school access, fire protection, police protection, road and street upkeep by city workers, garbage collection, city of meridian water

 

[HammerOfTheDogs]

Meridian is a doctor/lawyer town. The only way someone can make good money in Meridian is by working at one of the hospitals, or suing doctors for malpractice. Meridianites were hostile to Navy and Marine personnel when NAS Meridian was first established in the 1960's, but relations have improved a bit since the mid-1970's.

Meridianites are generally fans of four schools- OM, State, USM, and Alabama, with a big boost to OM and UAT.

 

[RocketDawg]

Meridian is a doctor/lawyer town. The only way someone can make good money in Meridian is by working at one of the hospitals, or suing doctors for malpractice. Meridianites were hostile to Navy and Marine personnel when NAS Meridian was first established in the 1960's, but relations have improved a bit since the mid-1970's.

Meridianites are generally fans of four schools- OM, State, USM, and Alabama, with a big boost to OM and UAT.

That was certainly the case when I grew up there in the '50s and '60s. There was considerable disparity between the haves and have nots. Meridian had 5 sizable hospitals at the time ... a huge number for a small town. Not sure about now.

When NAS Meridian was established, it was an NAAS (Naval Auxiliary Air Station). I wasn't aware that it had become a full-fledged NAS. When did that happen. In fact, I thought it had been closed in one of the BRACs a few years ago. No?

 

[HammerOfTheDogs]

That was certainly the case when I grew up there in the '50s and '60s. There was considerable disparity between the haves and have nots. Meridian had 5 sizable hospitals at the time ... a huge number for a small town. Not sure about now.

When NAS Meridian was established, it was an NAAS (Naval Auxiliary Air Station). I wasn't aware that it had become a full-fledged NAS. When did that happen. In fact, I thought it had been closed in one of the BRACs a few years ago. No?

It became NAS in the early 1970's. Dad was an Instructor pilot in the mid-1960's (John McCain was one of his fellow instructors), when it was NAAS Meridian. He was putting in 3 hops a day 6 days a week, getting pilots ready for Vietnam.

In the 1970's, it got a Tech school set up there (the Stennis Center) for Marines and Navy guys just out of Boot Camp. Dad was C.O. at MATSS-903 from 1974-78.

 

[RocketDawg]

Nice. Sounds like your Dad had a good Naval career. I am retired from the Naval Reserve (no real active duty) but was an Engineering Officer assigned to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard until they closed it, then to Norfolk. Did ship overhauls (can't do all that much in 12 weekends a year, plus 2 week stretches, but it was a little). Retired in 1996.

 

[BiscuitEater]

Maybe ...

Civics 101: Everyone pays county taxes (because everyone lives IN the county) City residents pay those county taxes (pretty sure its at a lower millage rate because city resident don't have to fund the lauderdale county school system), in addition to city taxes, because in return for paying those city taxes, they receive services like garbage collection, fire protection, police protection, city streets paved (sporadically), a very large public school system, city government employees salaries paid, incentives paid to bring in new business, etc, etc, etc.

You should change it to "Mississippi Civics 101" because I have lived in eight different states and overseas and Mississippi is the ONLY state that I have lived in that taxes this way.

In Virginia, you pay city taxes if you live in the city and county taxes if you live in the county.

 

[HammerOfTheDogs]

Nice. Sounds like your Dad had a good Naval career. I am retired from the Naval Reserve (no real active duty) but was an Engineering Officer assigned to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard until they closed it, then to Norfolk. Did ship overhauls (can't do all that much in 12 weekends a year, plus 2 week stretches, but it was a little). Retired in 1996.

He's a retired Marine.

 

[ababyatemydingo]

You should change it to "Mississippi Civics 101" because I have lived in eight different states and overseas and Mississippi is the ONLY state that I have lived in that taxes this way.

In Virginia, you pay city taxes if you live in the city and county taxes if you live in the county.

Since Meridian is in Mississippi, I figured common sense would prevail. I guess not