More Bad News for Everyone (Well, Not Rich People)

by Tony Chavira

You'd think that right now people who make a lot of money should be applauding the American dream and the system of government in which they were able to make it happen for themselves.  But instead, they straight-up don't pay taxes (SURPRISE SURPRISE):

Residents of wealthier cities generally pay lower property tax rates than those in poorer cities, according to L.A. County tax records.

The information, provided by the L.A. County auditor-controller's office, comes amid debate about city salaries and taxes in the working-class community of Bell. The Times' Kim Christensen reported last week that while Bell was paying its city manager nearly $800,000 a year, its residents paid the second-highest property tax rate in the county, 1.55%.

Neighboring working-class cities, including Compton, San Fernando, El Monte, Huntington Park, Maywood, Montebello and Inglewood, also have high property tax rates. Indeed, of the 10 cities with the highest rates, six had median household incomes below $50,000.

The city of Los Angeles ranked No. 13, with a property tax rate of 1.22%.

Cities with the lowest rates tended to be more affluent. The bottom 10 included Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Cerritos and La Habra Heights.

Of the bottom 10, seven had median annual household incomes of at least $100,000 and six had median incomes of at least $128,000.

Now that you know the cities with the lowest tax rates though, maybe we should migrate to them en masse and see what hte population surge does to resources in these small cities.  I wonder if they'd rethink their tax strategies then!

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