I’m Michael Oates, candidate for Assessor. I have lived in Arden since 2001 and had a leasehold here since 2004. I think the Board of Assessors is facing some interesting challenges. One is that New Castle County will soon reappraise all properties in the County. And while we in Arden pay “land rent” each year, the reality is that 63% of this year’s proposed Village budget is determined by County and School taxes—which do not use the “Georgist model” to determine land or property improvement values. Adhering to the strict Georgist “tax land, not labor,” Arden’s largest leaseholds pay the most rent, regardless of the improvements upon them— which, if modest, the County modestly appraises. Conversely, small leaseholds with large improved dwellings, which are appraised significantly by the County, benefit from the modest size of their leasehold under the Georgist model. Admittedly, the Board of Assessors uses a “hybrid Georgist model,” but does that model accurately reflect the 63% each leasehold’s land rent when it’s determined by a non-Georgist model? How will the Board handle the challenge of potentially increased taxes after the coming County reappraisal? And what about the issue of assessing additional domicile units, or ADUs? ADU renters enjoy the same benefits of Arden as those who have leaseholds. How is an ADU’s land rent fairly determined? I am running because I believe one’s land rent should be equitable and fairly incorporate all the factors—Georgist and otherwise—that determine the total annual budget needed to run Arden.
10/06/2021