Read the full story here Web Link posted Wednesday, June 21, 2017, 9:03 AM
Town Square
Grand jury: districts make tax exemptions tough to get
Original post made on Jun 21, 2017
Read the full story here Web Link posted Wednesday, June 21, 2017, 9:03 AM
Comments (17)
a resident of North Whisman
on Jun 21, 2017 at 2:43 pm
Is it possible to pass on the information to get the exemption for those with social security disability? Any help is greatly appreciated.
a resident of Monta Loma
on Jun 21, 2017 at 2:45 pm
Hey.. didn't know about these exemptions.
I'll get my Mom on that one.. plus a couple of my neighbors.
See if we can't let some people keep more of their money!
a resident of Monta Loma
on Jun 21, 2017 at 2:52 pm
Found it very easy to apply for exemption from MVWSD. Just call the district office and make a request. They will mail
you a form.
a resident of Cuesta Park
on Jun 21, 2017 at 3:42 pm
If you're a senior and have to re-apply for exemption . . . well, that's about as dumb a rule as I can think of. Rarely do people's ages change in the negative.
Since we, as a society, continue to fail to fund schools requiring parcel taxes and charitable giving (such as LAEF) perhaps it's time we rethink the entire financial scenario.
But that's unlikely to happen . . . in my lifetime.
a resident of another community
on Jun 21, 2017 at 3:46 pm
Make it easy with an opt out box on the tax bill. Better yet, have an opt in so that everyone who wants to pay, can. Those who qualify and cannot afford the multiple $100 bond payments then do not need to add the amount onto the county property tax bill. There are multiple school bonds on our tax bills.
How about a way for people to claim past years' exemptions, too? As Otto stated, many are unaware of the ability to save their money and the system is unwieldy.
It is good that we have the Grand Jury because the politicians fail to listen to their constituents.
a resident of Cuesta Park
on Jun 21, 2017 at 5:36 pm
Kathleen, I did not find that the case - and it is explicit in the form for the last Parcel Tax that you must appear in person, with the proper property tax document, and proof of age or SSDI. I did not consider this onerous (one time). It seems like the exemption continues, without having to refile every year.
The Form is on-line, the application must be done in person to check the original documentation (not mailed in copy.)
Web Link
Since the timing was unclear - but the new tax is suppose to grandfather (continue) the exemptions for those that applied under the old tad, I just dragged my old 66 yr old self down with the form and the documents.
Does the District check 'change of ownership' or change of occupancy? (it does not apply, to oldsters moving to Maui and market-rate renting their old residence. ("owner occupied" principal residence)
a resident of Rengstorff Park
on Jun 21, 2017 at 7:41 pm
Wait, Steven Nelson, are you telling us that you haven't been paying parcel taxes during the time you were on the MVWSD school board?
a resident of Cuesta Park
on Jun 21, 2017 at 8:39 pm
The application DOES NOT have to be done in person. You can mail it in, email it in, or even have a proxy bring it in if you aren't able to. The exemption does continue without having to renew every year.
Agree with Exemption above - you really can't afford the $198 per year? So nice of you to be supportive of the kids.
a resident of Monta Loma
on Jun 21, 2017 at 9:28 pm
The exemption form for Measure B is not available on the district website. The link to follow for Measure B from the home page takes you to the old exemption form for Measure C.
a resident of Monta Loma
on Jun 22, 2017 at 9:00 pm
It is not a "loss" if a government entity doesn't get tax money. Simply live within your means.
a resident of Monta Loma
on Jun 22, 2017 at 9:10 pm
I talked to the Business office at MVWSD today. If I understood correctly, they are due to post an exemption form on their website within a week. At any rate, they said call back in a week.
a resident of North Whisman
on Jun 23, 2017 at 4:46 am
How do we get a refund when we were paying taxes we couldn't afford? Seems like refunds are in order.
a resident of Cuesta Park
on Jun 26, 2017 at 1:49 pm
@Diablo, You were not given correct information. You will probably loose your (new) exemption if you do not file by the 30th of this month. You will loose the exemption for the whole tax year. Check the document on-line (yeah - it is somewhat incorrect now), print it, fill it out, take the correct documents down in-person, and get a copy showing that you submitted the correct documents - to the correct place, in time.
Sorry - as the Civil Grand Jury noted, often the written web documents are unclear and even district staffs are unclear. Note, if you miss*, you will not be given a refund after the county taxes you! ("by June 30")
(will the unnamed person at the Business Office give you $198 if they goofed? got that in writing?)
PS I supported the progressive Measure C tax, where large Google & Prometheus apartment parcels paid almost 10X what I did for my normal residential parcel. I do not support regressive tax cuts for the wealthy. (local or national)
a resident of Cuesta Park
on Jun 26, 2017 at 2:02 pm
poster from June 21
"Please complete this form and deliver it to the Mountain View Whisman School District Office at 750-A San Pierre Way, in Mountain View, by June 30, 2016. Also, please bring proof of residence, proof of age, and a copy of your tax bill." I do not know where you are getting your information. But it is obviously contrary to the written instructions that are currently (June 26, 1:50 PM) posted at MVWSD.org.
the Civil Grand Jury Report findings - confusion
"deliver it", same as 'have it delivered'? "bring proof" same as 'mail a copy of proof'?
a resident of Another Mountain View Neighborhood
on Jun 27, 2017 at 10:37 am
There should be a requirement that anyone claiming exemption should also have voted "No" on the parcel tax measure. Anyone who voted "Yes" on the parcel tax but then claims exemption is just passing the buck to the rest of us.
a resident of Another Mountain View Neighborhood
on Jun 27, 2017 at 10:45 am
You guys passed the majority of the buck to the rest of us decades ago with Prop 13. Pay your parcel tax and slink back to the home that we're all subsidizing you to live in.
a resident of Cuesta Park
on Jun 28, 2017 at 8:37 am
@Taxpayer, why your idea (maybe has some merit) would not work. The electorate is not the same as 'property owners'. If you own property, and are not a resident, no vote. If you own property, are a resident, not a citizen, no vote. If you do not own property, are a citizen and registered, you can vote.
Sort of like the complicated rules for how the United States mixes up the election process for selecting a President of the United States. Somehow - the "States" part is represented.
As a residential property owner I paid my full and complete Measure C taxes over the full years of that school tax, and, as a voter I voted for Measure C when it was on the ballot more than 8 years ago.
Don't miss out
on the discussion!
Sign up to be notified of new comments on this topic.
Post a comment
Stay informed.
Get the day's top headlines from Mountain View Online sent to your inbox in the Express newsletter.