🚀 go-pugleaf

On Mon, 02 Aug 1999 04:24:44 -0800, PeteR <anonymous@web.remarq.com>
wrote: [...]

 >So, notice that the taxes that this hypothetical but
 >thoroughly average family would pay would vary by only about
 >$2,000 out of over $20,000 in the DC region.  Not very much
 >to pay for living where you want to live, instead of trying
 >to minimize your taxes by living somewhere that people just
 >THINK has lower taxes.  Live where ever you want to, but
 >make your choice based on an accurate, unbiased assesment of
 >the costs, not just on what headline, politicians, or the
 >"if I live here it must be the best" crowd tell you.

Dear Anonymous:  The article you quoted supposes an identically-priced
home in the various jurisdictions without accounting for the variation
in what that price will buy.  That is, while I would not choose to
live in Prince William County, I don't deny that the same $300,000
which buys an apartment in the city will buy nearly a mansion further
out.  It's just a trade-off like any other.  

Therefore, to compare comparable living standards, we would find that
the tax burden in outlying areas is far less than the article (and the
study to which it refers) implies.  For many, myself included, this is
compensated for by other advantages of living in town.   But if I
worked in an outlying area I would certainly live there too. 

Mike



"Fighting for Peace is like F**king for Virginity"
   ( --spied on a T-Shirt in London )