Aerial snooping for property taxes

by Walter Olson on October 1, 2008

“A new high-tech aerial photography system that can spot an illegal porch from 5,000 feet is being marketed to tax assessors as a way to grow revenue.” Backers say the system can help assessors spot not only unauthorized building additions but also cases in which taxpayers claim farmstead exemptions but aren’t farming enough of their land to qualify. (Richard Degener, “Taxes could get sky-high with aerial technology”, Press of Atlantic City, Sept. 29).

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{ 4 comments }

1 Todd Rogers 10.01.08 at 10:07 am

And the next wave of technology will enable assessors to determine if artwork hanging within people’s homes has increased in value thereby accruing a capital gain.

2 ShelbyC 10.01.08 at 12:33 pm

“new high-tech aerial photography system”? What about google earth?

3 Charlie Bratten 10.01.08 at 1:41 pm

Google Earth coverage is hit or miss. Outside of urban areas, it can be mediocre at best.

4 Deoxy 10.01.08 at 2:17 pm

Hard to see anything wrong with this, as it’s what’s visible from off of the property and thus shouldn’t be considered a “search”.

It may point out how ridiculous some laws are, when a large portion of the populace ignores them.

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