NJ taxes a family whose house burned down
I was on vacation and away from newspapers for the past week so I'm just catching up on the news courtesy of The Star-Ledger. Last Wednesday's paper had an item that was so over-the-top amazing that it has to be a new low in New Jersey governmental stupidity.

The owners of a house destroyed by fire are required to pay the state an "affordable housing" tax in order to rebuild their home. Regulations adopted by the State Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) require disaster victims to comply with the expensive fees developers and businesses are now forced to pay before any new construction can proceed.

The regulations are quite clear; since the house burned to the ground it is considered a "demolition", and any demolition triggers the affordable housing tax. Demolitions are classified as a "source of secondary housing demand, as they eliminate housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income households". This is, of course, patently absurd in the Ferraros' case; their home was never a "housing opportunity for low- and moderate-income households". It was their home. When they rebuild it, it will still be their home. The availablity of low- and moderate-income housing in their town will not be changed one iota.

The affordable housing tax isn't exactly chump change either. One estimate put the Ferraros' liability to the state at almost $20,000. Twenty Thousand Dollars. Just because they were unlucky enough to have an electrical fire.

But wait, there's more absurdity! COAH spokesman Chris Donnelly said in a statement that the Ferraros' home town of Franklin can waive the fee. What Mr. Donnelly fails to mention however is, if Franklin waives the fee the town becomes liable for the bill to COAH. Sure, the Ferraros don't have to pay it if their town files for a waiver, but then their neighbors will be stuck with the bill. COAH gets their money regardless.

The postively Orwellian nature of COAH's "logic" is laughable. Rebuilding a house destroyed by an act of God is not "growth". I shudder to imagine what would happen if the bozos at COAH had control over the Gulf Coast. Hurrican Gustav is barrelling down on New Orleans. Many homes are liketly to be destroyed, in scenes reminiscent of Katrina. COAH would be salivating at the prospect of collecting millions of dollars in affordable housing taxes -- blood money extracted from the suffering of their fellow Americans.

If there is anyone out there who still believes that the liberal goo-goos who run this state don't have their heads firmly implanted in their rectums, this absurd story should remove all doubt.

Posted at 13:46 by Chris   [/rants]   | | | Email | del.icio.us | Digg | Stumble It! | Reddit | Link