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Originally Posted by Sal
...If property has a loverlee view, doesn't that feature increase the selling price? If the selling price is higher due to the lah-de dah view, doesn't the valuation track the selling price? So now some want to increase the valuation further, because of the wonderful view??...
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No, that is not the case here.
The location of the property factors into the overall valuation of the property. A one acre spread in community x that is located on a hilltop with a view of a nearby mountain range or body of water will command more value on the open market then the same one acre property located intown with no comparable view. Your property tax is based on fair market value. The key factor in real estate being "location, location, location".
There is no "separate" view tax, that is a misnomer coined by those who for years were not being assessed fair market value for their properties where location greatly enhanced that property's assessed value.
What occurred to stir the controversy is when the State stepped in and forced all communities to begin assessing properties on a fair and even scale. Many smaller communities in the northern & western portion of the State had not revalued properties in decades, or were using outdated or incorrect statistical data or comparable methods.
The bottom line is quite simple. You are assessed a certain value for your property. If you feel that value is incorrect you can ask for an adjustment through the abatement process. If you just don't want to pay your fair share when your property is assessed at its fair market value you coin a cute but incorrect phrase like "ax the view tax". But in the end you either pay your taxes, sell or allow the government to foreclose on your property.
Most people in New Hampshire pay their taxes and as the last election and survey after survey after survey continue to show, they continue to believe that the property tax system in New Hampshire remains a superior collection method vice the income or sales tax alternative.
And those that don't like the fact that they are now being asked to pay their fair share complain.