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Guest Column

High taxes, insurance bring fear into homeownership

By Donna Carmack
Published July 31, 2006

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As I sat down with my twins for lunch, my doorbell rang. I wasn't expecting any visitors. As I got up from the table to answer the door, several thoughts as to who it could be ran through my mind.

I recently had surgery, so I thought maybe it was flowers. It wasn't flowers. I recently purchased several items on the Internet, so I thought maybe the mail carrier brought them to my door. It wasn't a package. It was something far worse. Something I had been dreading.

A gentleman was standing at my door with a clipboard and calculator. Once he verified me as the property owner, he introduced himself. He smiled and announced that he works for the property appraiser. My emotions betrayed me. Rather than having a stoic, devil-may-care attitude, the look on my face caused this young man to apologize.

I stepped outside with him as he measured the lanai surrounding my new pool. We talked about the escalation of property taxes in the county. As he tapped away on his calculator, I could swear I heard the formidable "cha-ching" ringing at the appraiser's office.

First, let me explain how I was even able to obtain my pool. I consider myself to be wise and somewhat prudent about large purchases. My house was built in 2004. I have a modest home. It is by no means an estate, coming in at under 2,000 square feet. On my teacher's salary, I managed to scrape up enough for a decent down payment, financing the least amount possible.

Please don't misunderstand me; my mortgage consumes nearly one-half of my monthly salary. After I had lived in the house for one year, interest rates dropped enough for me to refinance and add the pool for my family. Last year, in addition to my regular teaching job, I taught evening classes at Pasco-Hernando Community College 12 hours per week and tutored two hospital-homebound students.

I believe that if you want something bad enough and you work hard for it, it is the right thing to do. I did all this while raising three beautiful children. If it hadn't been for the endless help of my mother-in-law, seeing to it that my daughters got to their dance lessons on time and being at the house for my son's piano lessons, I don't know what I would have done.

I am now fearful. I don't like being afraid. What scares me is that I might be taxed and insured out of my home. My homeowners insurance bill has doubled. Although I love a waterfront view, I chose to live very much inland because of the high cost of living by the water.

People have said I should count myself as fortunate because I haven't been dropped from my carrier. Frankly, I don't know which is worse, being insured at such an exorbitant price or not having insurance.

In addition to not having a poker face, I also am not a risk-taker. I am paying the high premium I have no other choice.

We all are familiar with the old adage about the two things we must do in life, die and pay taxes. The enormous hike in taxes is going to kill me. So, I guess that's killing two birds with one stone.

As with many other people in the county, any raise in my salary cannot match the increase in my taxes. This will be my 12th year teaching in Hernando County. I have my master's degree. My salary, which is posted on the county Web site, is $36,100. First-year teachers with just a bachelor's degree are making $30,200. After 11 years and earning another degree, my compensation has been $6,000. Without my master's degree (at a cost of approximately $11,500) I would have earned only $33,200.

Teachers are being forced to take more tests, take more classes and attend more workshops to be "highly qualified."

I paid for my tests. I drove to Tampa (with gas nearing $3 a gallon) to take my tests. Yes, I passed my tests, so rest assured, I am one of the many highly qualified teachers in this county.

I know of several teachers who have threatened to leave the county to teach in neighboring counties for more money. Some left, yet others remain, saying the increase in gas would eat up the increase in pay. I never threatened to leave. I like working close to my house. I like being close to my children if they should get ill while they are in school. I like teaching in the county where I live.

Ironic, isn't it? As a taxpayer I am paying my own salary, yet as I make sure I have the money due for my taxes, I am wondering how many jobs I will have to work this year in order to pay them.

Donna Carmack lives in Spring Hill. Guest columnists write their own views on subjects they choose, which do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.

[Last modified July 31, 2006, 05:58:19]