This guy is my hero: Pay your property taxes in change and singles

Now just think...if everyone did this, whee!

Link

MUNCIE, Ind. - A landlord said he wanted people to see the pain of his property tax bill when he hauled $12,656.07 in coins and $1 bills to the county treasurer's office.

Cary Malchow said the heavy load left him "out of breath" but it was worth watching three cashiers working overtime and guarded by sheriff's deputies on Monday to count every last cent of the semi-annual payment for his home, business and rental properties.

"I did it so people can physically see what $12,000 is," said Malchow, who has staged other recent protests to draw attention to Indiana's property tax increases.

It took 75 minutes to count out the cash, said Delaware County Treasurer Warren Beebe.

"They were fast, they were hustling. They're used to counting money, but of course that left other people standing in line. It was an awkward situation," Beebe said Tuesday.

Malchow's protest prevented the office from making its daily bank deposit, costing the county an estimated $1,135.90 in interest that would have otherwise accrued overnight, Beebe said.

if he wanted to make a statement, he should have just paid in pennies

xpguy said: if he wanted to make a statement, he should have just paid in pennies

I thought they could refuse Pennies and nickels, but needed to take dimes and up...I could be wrong though

they don't have to accept change unless its rolled

Explain why it is so bright to make other people stand in line and cost the municipality over a grand in interest. Don't think that the lost interest and likely overtime for the workers to count the money will not be made up in next years tax rate.

If everyone did it, they would need to keep raising the tax, which would result in more time spent counting, which results in losing money by collecting taxes, hence no more taxes

what would be the most difficult combination to process? Susan B's and quarters?

Squeezer99 said: longwood8 said: Explain why it is so bright to make other people stand in line and cost the municipality over a grand in interest. Don't think that the lost interest and likely overtime for the workers to count the money will not be made up in next years tax rate.

because maybe then the county would wise up, drop the property tax, and move to a fairtax system?Right.

Here is what US Treasury says:

Question: I thought that United States currency was legal tender for all debts. Some businesses or governmental agencies say that they will only accept checks, money orders or credit cards as payment, and others will only accept currency notes in denominations of $20 or smaller. Isn't this illegal?

Answer: The pertinent portion of law that applies to your question is the Coinage Act of 1965, specifically Section 31 U.S.C. 5103, entitled "Legal tender," which states: "United States coins and currency (including Federal reserve notes and circulating notes of Federal reserve banks and national banks) are legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes, and dues."

This statute means that all United States money as identified above are a valid and legal offer of payment for debts when tendered to a creditor. There is, however, no Federal statute mandating that a private business, a person or an organization must accept currency or coins as for payment for goods and/or services. Private businesses are free to develop their own policies on whether or not to accept cash unless there is a State law which says otherwise. For example, a bus line may prohibit payment of fares in pennies or dollar bills. In addition, movie theaters, convenience stores and gas stations may refuse to accept large denomination currency (usually notes above $20) as a matter of policy.

FAQs: Currency Legal Tender Status

longwood8 said: Explain why it is so bright to make other people stand in line and cost the municipality over a grand in interest. Don't think that the lost interest and likely overtime for the workers to count the money will not be made up in next years tax rate.

I dont get this...doenst he make the renters pay for the taxes through rents...and dont those people have kids they send to school and use the roads, etc...

codename47 said: Or they'll just buy an automatic coin counting machine, load the coins in, and ask you to step aside while business as usual continues.
Where can I get one of those free automatic coin machines? They don't cost anything, do they? They get a coin counter, I get a bunch of singles...and 2 dollar bills mixed in...Of course they aren't free, hence my use of the word "buy". They also make bill counting machines that can easily handle mixed denominations.

They'll just buy the counting machines, and to pay for it they'll raise taxes by 0.1% more than the planned increase during the next hike. Way to go, hero!

Actually they may not even need to raise taxes at all - you can get a bill counter and a coin counter for $500 retail. That's a barely noticeable drop in the bucket, doesn't even qualify as capital equipment.
http://www.smartbillcounters.com/

codename47 said: Explain why it is so bright to make other people stand in line and cost the municipality over a grand in interest. Don't think that the lost interest and likely overtime for the workers to count the money will not be made up in next years tax rate.
Well, while they are waiting, I'd be sure to espouse the principles of fighting back, standing up to oppressive tax hike and making the government work for YOU.

They can make up the lost money in tax hikes. Then I'd get 20 of my friends to do it. They'll quit before I do.

You got any other ideas for making the government back down or just complain about it to the BBB?

yea, the gov'ment will just give up and stop collecting or roll back taxes because you and your band of merry "radicals" fight the power. Dream on. You will back down when you have a heart attack from carrying more and more pennies every quarter. Reality: All of those people you are expouseing (sp?) to will complain when their street is not plowed at the first drop of snow or their trash is not picked up before 9:00.

As to the interest question, chances are this was done on the last day quarterly taxes were due when there is often a huge line of people paying their taxes at the last minute. Probably 20% of the town's revenue is brought in that one day.

Property taxes? My property tax bills go straight into the shredder with the rest of the junk mail!

Hows that for "radical?"

teplitsa said: everyone complains about taxes, but when it's time to raise them the politicians bring out the same old stories of cuts in people's favorite programs and the people vote for it or they reelect the same people to office over and over.What a scam! Government services should cost the same every year. It's not like things get more expensive over time or anything...

Darn, what courage!

It sure put this guy's act to shame.

codename47 said: Explain why it is so bright to make other people stand in line and cost the municipality over a grand in interest. Don't think that the lost interest and likely overtime for the workers to count the money will not be made up in next years tax rate.
Well, while they are waiting, I'd be sure to espouse the principles of fighting back, standing up to oppressive tax hike and making the government work for YOU.

Make a bunch of people wait in line an extra hour while you make your "statement", and then preaching to them on top of that? I smell a Darwin award in the making!

codename47 said:
I'm confused...you dislike "oppressive taxes" and the government, so you want to push those taxes higher and increase the size of the government?
I want them to back down, and unless you start rattling some cages, nobody is going to notice.

He'd be better off arguing that the tax money is being wasted by demonstrating the county's irresponsible and/or poorly implemented fiscal policies.

Freno911 said: All I know is, those little green bills I have in my wallet tell me that they are legal tender, usable for public and private debts. I'll pay in whatever way pleases me the most.no one has to accept them.

from page 1

codename47 said:
I want them to back down, and unless you start rattling some cages, nobody is going to notice.
Well they will notice you, As a dope. I don't love paying taxes but I like having a police force to protect my family, A fire department for emergencies and school system to educate my kids. I live in a small town and instead of doing something silly and childish I just get involved in town meetings to voice my opinion on tax issues. This is what adults do, At some point you will get there

jayK said: teplitsa said: everyone complains about taxes, but when it's time to raise them the politicians bring out the same old stories of cuts in people's favorite programs and the people vote for it or they reelect the same people to office over and over.What a scam! Government services should cost the same every year. It's not like things get more expensive over time or anything...

the largest part of any budget at state and lower level is pensions and medical benefits. not the actuall services

he can't be doing that bad HE IS A LANDLORD, i feel no sympathy for his proprty tax that was for at least 2 pieces of property probably more... cry me a river.