Editor:

Having lived another year, I am grateful to my Creator for that blessing. But I sure wish I felt that way about the political class in this state. Having neither bought nor sold any property, I found that my property insurance increased over 300 percent this year, and my property taxes also increased 300 percent.

I was cancelled by one insurance company and had my annual prepayment returned by another insurance carrier for “credit reasons.” My credit was good enough, however, for their auto policy which they chose to keep. The auto, of course, was “required” to write my homeowner’s wind and hail policy, which they cancelled.

So excuse me if I seem a little bewildered by Governor Riley talking about how he cut taxes and then endorsing one of local candidate for state senator, for being a conservative leader. I could be wrong but Governor Riley, Mr. McKinney and all the other representatives of Baldwin County have done nothing to alleviate this situation. Mr. Nix isn’t the only one who should have seen this coming. Many good achievements have been enacted by this administration but on these issues that matter most, they appear asleep at the wheel.

The Fairhope Single Tax Corp. board correctly pointed out that our local representatives have done nothing to stop the increased taxation of their constituents for the benefit of the rest of the state. Fair market value property taxation is a very pernicious way of raising taxes without anyone taking responsibility. People are taxed not on anything they did but rather what someone else did or plans to do.

Many of us bought property at a fair price years ago and plan on living there for the foreseeable future. Many of us own undeveloped lots with no plans to do anything but hold them for possible future use. The fact that my property is worth more to someone else today has no bearing on my decision to remain at my home or hold my lot. So why should I be taxed on someone else’s current needs or government created inflation? When I sell it, I may pay a tax on any gain but that would be based on MY decision.

Regarding insurance, I favor free-market solutions. But as long as there is regulation, I believe companies and the state insurance commission should have to explain why cherry-picking products, like my auto and not my property, and/or markets is in the best interests of the residents. Having talked to many brokers and agents, I find the current approach confusing at best and smelly at worst. I just would like to hear the same explanation from two insurers or brokers.

Living in California when Proposition 13 passed, I wondered why limiting increases in property taxes was a big deal. After the last year in Baldwin County, I now understand what Howard Jarvis meant by taxation without representation.

I urge Governor Riley and our local representatives to look at some alternative ways to provide revenues for the state. I would also ask them to look at making the property insurance market as competitive as possible. In the interim please don’t fill the local airwaves with commercials about what I great job you’re doing. Your accomplishments are more than I can afford.