How does that work?  I mean, I struggled in math a little bit and added when I should have subtracted, or vice versa, but a tax increase without actually increasing the tax rate?  It could happen …

Actually it’s not necessarily a bad thing, as property tax rates, government services (like schools, roads and emergency services) and market prices are interdependent.  For those of you who own your own home, it might be rather inconvenient to pay a fee of several hundred – or sometimes thousands – of dollars twice a year to pay property taxes, but in the long run the payment of these fees assures that all of us have access to basic and vital services as we enjoy this beautiful area of the country.