Arrrgh!!!

Did you know that in some towns in the US if you sell your house and move to a new house in the same town, that they will tax you as much as one dollar per thousand for the price of your new house? I was astounded to hear that rule, and I'll never move again without being sure that I'm not going to get hit with a fee like that! I assume the towns quietly fail to advertise that law, or no one in their right mind would buy another house in the same town!

In my reading today, I came across the information that states are making up for lost income by raising fees rather than taxes. For instance, the license plates for cars or boats, or the cost to file plans with the building department, or fees for ambulance service, or a large number of services that most of us need at one time or another have been raised. No self-respecting politician who wants to be re-elected will raise taxes when they can sneak fees like this past the populace. It's Tuesday, do you know what your representative is up to??

UPDATE: I just discovered where I found the information on hidden fees. It was over at the Parkway Rest Stop. Go visit Jim and get the complete story on his post Monday, August 18......"A Tax By Any Other Name."