Homeowners already paying plenty of taxes

  Homeowners and other property owners are some of the most taxed people in Arizona, paying property taxes in addition to the other taxes that all Arizonans pay. Yet, some think homeowners should pay even more.

  That is why Proposition 100 is on the Nov. 4 ballot this year. The proposal asks voters to approve an amendment to the Arizona Constitution that would prohibit any level of government in our state from imposing a sales or transfer tax on real estate transactions.

  In a state that is facing huge deficits due to falling revenues from various sales and income taxes, it would be no surprise if government officials and special interests start casting around for a new form of revenue for their pet projects.

  An attractive target could very well be a tax on purchases and sales of homes and other property, something that currently is not done in Arizona, but has been imposed in some other states.

  Proponents of such a tax claim there are great public needs in a growing state like ours and ways need to be found to pay for them, including new forms of taxation. They claim a prohibition on new real estate taxes just benefits wealthy developers who should be paying their fair share.

  The ones who would actually be paying the tax would be homeowners, business owners and other property owners, not the developers who would pass it on. Does a business pay sales tax on an item a consumer buys? Of course not - they tack it on to the purchaser's bill.

  Property owners already pay more than their fair share of taxes. They get yearly tax bills that are often quite substantial. Much of the burden for public needs is already on the shoulders of property owners - just take a look at your property tax bill that recently was sent out by the Yuma County assessor.

  The home and real estate market is already very troubled. Foreclosures are at record highs in some areas like Phoenix. Adding even more taxes would do nothing to help a recovery.

  Proposition 100 will help ensure property owners and buyers will not become a "cash cow" for those who want to spend even more on unneeded government programs.