Man Pays $21K Property Taxes In Coins
Arizona Coin Collector
The story below is now on several news links.
Love the story below. Good way to protest high
property taxes.
Looks like the state of Indiana has some high
taxes.
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FROM:
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/money/18312609/detail.html?rss=den&psp=irresistible
KMGH-TV CHANNEL 7 DENVER
Man Pays $21K Property Taxes In Coins
Frank Alford Says It's His Way Of Protesting Higher Taxes
POSTED: 4:41 pm MST December 18, 2008
NEW ALBANY, Ind. -- A Floyd County man showed up at
the city-county building in New Albany to pay his
property taxes with more than $21,000 in coins.
Frank Alford, who owns several single-family rental
homes, said it's his way of protesting higher taxes,
reported WLKY-TV in Louisville, Ky.
When he walked into the Floyd County treasurer's
office Thursday morning, a deputy clerk immediately
recognized Alford because last year, he paid his
taxes with dollar bills.
Alford loaded a garbage can with $21,333 in Susan B.
Anthony dollar coins, and he carried a sign that
read, "Property taxes gone wild."
"I'm letting them know I'm a very unhappy
taxpayer," he said.
Alford said his property taxes have gone up 48
percent since 2006, and tax relief recently passed
by the Indiana Legislature has done nothing for
people who own rental property.
"The owner who lives in their property got all
kinds of tax breaks. They don't give you no
homestead exemption, no mortgage exemption,
nothing," he said. "You're paying double what
you're paying than owning your own home."
Alford, a retiree with two hip replacements,
loaded what he estimated was 400 pounds of coins
and then headed inside to the treasurer's office
to settle up.
Deputy clerk Bette Buechler did a quick tally of
Alford's property taxes.
When asked if the office has to accept the
Susan B. Anthony coins, Buechler said, "I think
I'm understanding if it comes in pennies, we
don't have to."
A Floyd County deputy sheriff was asked to lend
a hand getting the money to a nearby bank to
be counted.
As for Alford, this may not be his last protest.
"If we don't get some relief, it may be in quarters,
dimes or pennies next year," he said. "I'm angry
at them."
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