In the Feb. 18 Sun Journal article “Lewiston approves $23M capital improvement plan,” there is a paragraph referring to revaluation.
It reads as follows: “Lewiston homes, on average, are assessed and taxed at 82% of their market value, while commercial and industrial properties in Lewiston are assessed at 91% of their value. A revaluation would equalize these values, shifting the tax burden slightly away from businesses and toward residential property owners.”
Businesses have always structured their pricing of goods and services to include the cost of real estate taxes. Consequently, consumers end up paying for businesses’ real estate taxes. The revaluation will definitely increase taxes on residential property owners.
The article states that the revaluation could shift an additional amount of tax burden to the residential homeowner. People should remember that residential homeowners are also consumers of goods and services, and are always paying toward the businesses’ taxes.
I hope that common sense prevails, to ensure homeowners will not be required to take on even more tax debt in order to shift the tax burden away from businesses.
Richard Smith, Lewiston
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