State and local governments often give property tax breaks to the biggest American corporations and out-of-country companies. This is to gain new jobs for their areas along with future tax revenues.
What is wrong with the Lake County government giving property tax holidays for five to 10 years, for anyone building a new single-family home in the county? This offer could be reviewed each year to end it, when the local economy becomes more healthy. In offering such a tax break, the building of single-family units, would bring new jobs to the local construction industry. It would also gain retail sales for those companies whose products are used in building a home.
The tax breaks could even be drawn up so as to qualify the purchase of all materials locally, unless otherwise not available within the county. We have seen the bailout of the Wall Street crowd and so why not lend a helping hand to the little guys, right here in Lake County. These tax breaks would only be in play as long as the first owner lives in these units, so as to keep out the real estate speculators.
The same type of tax breaks could be offered to local resorts that upgrade their properties and to first-time homeowners who purchase single family dwellings that have been foreclosed upon.
Lastly, property tax breaks could be offered to anyone who might develop catfish farms along the Long Valley branch of Cache Creek, bringing new jobs and a source of a new locally-grown agriculture inventory to be offered in local food establishments as well as retail grocery stores along with a high protein product to be used in the school lunch programs.
Jim Hall
Clearlake Oaks
