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-----Original Message-----
From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu [mailto:phys-l-
bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf Of Joseph Bellina
Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 8:58 AM
To: Forum for Physics Educators
Subject: Re: [Phys-l] taxes (was SOLAR , NUCLEAR ENERGY etc.)
I've stayed away from this just because of its complexity, but I do
want to comment on the renter issue, but not with regard to taxes.
I think we all agree that there are substantial energy savings to
be made in home heating and cooling by improving insulation.
However, it is not clear how to do that in a rental situation when
the renter is paying for the heating and cooling. Improving
insulation is a capitol improvement that belongs to the owner, so the
renter is not inclined to do it. Installing the insulation costs
money and there is not economic benefit to the owner, so they are not
inclined to do it.
Has anyone seen a solution to this catch 22? It is especially
important in lower income housing where the homes are old and very
poorly insulated.
joe
Joseph J. Bellina, Jr. Ph.D.
Professor of Physics
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, IN 46556
On Apr 15, 2009, at 9:45 AM, Rick Tarara wrote:
maybe
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rauber, Joel" <Joel.Rauber@SDSTATE.EDU>
While perhaps technically correct, in the sense that the
landlord's (or
their designate holder of the property mortgage)signature is the
name on
the check sent to the property tax authority. As a practical
matter the
renters are paying the tax, since it is usually a part of the rent
that
they are paying. I always figured that my rent was paying the
property
tax when I rented.
_______________________________________________
However...(lots of those in these discussions) what's the property
tax for a
typical apartment--multi-family buildings. Bet it is not the
$2-5000 that
the home owners are paying--and for the same services. That's part
of the
problem with taxes...depending on where you are standing you are
either
getting lots of services for almost no money (damn sales taxes
though--but
wait, earned income credit can get some of that back) or else you
are paying
hundreds of times what the guy a few blocks away is paying--all for
the same
set of government services.
Consider where we are (College or University)...a grounds keeper
making $20,000, a full professor, maybe $100,000, and the footballin
coach at
$2,000,000. Consider how much each pays in and what each gets out--
government services. Now fold in you political, sociological,
religious,
economic, ethical, whatever viewpoints and we will never agree on
what is
fair and equitable.
The real question (and again one on which there will be no
consensus) is
what is the proper role of government? How much should it do and
control.
The American experience has been one of moving that line back and
forth
constantly, but always within somewhat reasonable barriers--at both
ends.
Is that changing? Has it changed drastically in the last decade?
Life is not fair, not meant to be fair, and taxes are a prime
example of
this! ;-)
Rick
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Forum for Physics Educators
Phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
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_______________________________________________
Forum for Physics Educators
Phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
https://carnot.physics.buffalo.edu/mailman/listinfo/phys-l