Sunday, September 16, 2012

Public Restrictions on Ownership

Publc restrictions on land ownership includes things such as property taxes, escheats, police power, building codes and eminent domain.  These restrictions limit the usage and rights land owners have.  They can be very controversial, as you can see in the story below.
http://www.statesman.com/news/local/property-taxes-in-texas-up-nearly-200-percent-2440239.html
The above example examines the sharp increase in property taxes in Texas.  Property taxes are a very controversial issue partly to the fact that they differ between states.  Taxes are never an easy subject to discuss with citizens because they are usually against them and when news that property taxes in Texas have risen almost 200% in twenty years, Texas landowners become unhappy.  Comptroller Susan Combs is launching a site to inform citizens of who is taxing them and by how much to ease the public opinion.

Another example of a public restriction is eminent domain which is the taking of private property for public use or benefit as long as the owner receives "just compensation".  This process sometimes occurs without the need for the government to get involved but that is not what we see in the case below.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=49&articleid=20120913_13_E4_ByLaur338661
Many of the people near Beaumont, Texas are unhappy that TransCanada Corp. is trying to buy property for an oil pipeline and they have taken to the courts.  It seems that the locals may be given the right to refuse the sale of their property due to a recent decision by the Texas Supreme Court.  I believe the government should not be able to tell property owners what they must do with their land and I see this as a win for those who raised their voices.

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