Double tax stings N. Shore residents on county line
By George Warren, News 10
TRUCKEE — It may be legal, but that doesn’t make it right. Property owners in a Donner Lake neighborhood are paying double taxes to the local school district because the county line splits their property.
“I just feel it’s unfair,” said one of the homeowners who asked that her name not be used.
There are 18 modest homes on the south side of Cottonwood Street with their front yards in Nevada County and the actual house in Placer County. A 19th property split by the county line is a vacant lot.
Each address has two parcel numbers, one in each county.
The two counties take a pro-rated share of property tax based on the value of land and improvements in each jurisdiction. But a voter-approved special assessment for the Tahoe-Truckee Unified School District imposes a flat rate parcel tax that has been levied since 1989.
Last year’s school district parcel tax was $98. Voters recently approved boosting the tax to $135 beginning next school year.
“It’s not a lot of money. It’s the principle,” said the property owner who spoke to News10. She said the school district was unresponsive when she raised the issue, suggesting instead she apply for a senior exemption available to any property owner over the age of 65.
