The city of Decatur is trying to persuade the voters to increase their property taxes by a relatively small amount (at least compared to what we already pay) to cover the 2006-07 annual budget.  While our townhome is larger than most of the converted bungalows in the area, those homes are worth more than twice what our place is valued at, so the taxes would obviously be higher.

Anyway, I found an amusing page on the PowerPoint presentation they placed on the city’s website which outlined the reasons for the tax increase and what we would get in return.  The page that stood out from the rest was near the end, showing what we residents would have to give up in order to cover the cost of the increase.  Putting aside the fact that the home values they list here are laughably low for the area and nothing is available at these prices, the comparisons were amusing.

For a house valued at $250,000 (again, nonexistent in our neighborhood, maybe the coach houses in the back of some of these homes might be that cheap), the tax increase would be $125 annually or $10.42 a month, or 3 grande lattes.  OK, that’s funny, seeing that in less fortunate areas of town the comparison might not be for something as “yuppie-like” as a grande latte.

The next comparison they made was a $325,000 house which would translate to a $163 annual increase or $13.58 a month or 3 chardonnays.  Now they’re driving the point home with the ladies. 

But where they finally spoke my language was the next comparison.  A $400,000 home would pay $200 more in annual taxes, or $16.67 per month, or 3 Belgian beers!!!!  OK, now I get it.  Now they’re speaking directly to me.

Of course, as any beer snob like myself knows, $16.67 isn’t going to get you 3 Belgian beers at the bar, where they normally run $6-$8 a glass, plus tip.  You can get 3 Belgian beers for that much at the package stores though, so the comparison is legit.  Whoever made this presentation knew their target audience.

The bottom line is that I’m happy they didn’t use comparisons that would have implied that you were in a lower income neighborhood or a bastion of “Redneckia”.  If they compared items like pounds of hog meat or cases of Bud Ice or a Sam’s Club canister of Sanka, I might have gotten worried.  Does that make me a snob?  Then so be it.  Life is good.

Now if you’ll excuse me, these Belgian beers aren’t going to drink themselves.