Taxing doghouse not right

To the editor:

The Mat-Su Borough in its desperate and creative quest for tax dollars to squander on a variety of projects has found a new way to squeeze a few bucks from unsuspecting taxpayers: doghouses. Yes, you are reading it right, doghouses.

When our large Siberian husky passed away two years ago, my husband and I removed one side of the doghouse and stored in it a dead generator that we were hoping to fix, if we could find the parts for it, or else it would be scrapped. We then planned to recycle the grungy plywood for the doghouse.

The Mat-Su Borough assessors saw this old generator housed in an even older doghouse and proclaimed that we have a “generator housed in a generator shed.”

They proceeded to assess tax on the “generator shed.” Dimensions for this doghouse are 4 feet by 3 1/2 feet with a 1-by-1 foot opening for the dog to go in and out. The dead generator barely fits in and we could not possibly start it unless we take it out of the doghouse. Besides, the generator has been dead for several years.

We explained this to the assessors, to no avail. They still are taxing the doghouse as a generator shed, i.e. a structure.

What comes next? How about our outhouse? Will it get assessed as an outdoor toilet and then bingo! more tax dollars. How about a small pond behind our property? Will it get assessed as an outdoor natural swimming pool and get nailed with a luxury tax?

The way the Mat-Su Borough appraises properties around here is shamelessly based on hearsay and subjective conversations. It says so, black and white, in their instruction sheets.

Shame on the borough assessors.

Their actions explains why many cabins and homes in Alaska look so ugly. Any attempt at improvements or beautification gets prevented or punished in the form of taxes.

We gave up on Sheetrock, flooring and solar panels because of the borough. Our yard will continue looking like a junk yard because of the borough.

We decided not to install lattice for growing pretty clematis because of the borough. We also gave up on improving our outhouse because of the borough.

Last, but not least, we do not appreciate assessors coming here and taking pictures without any form of notice or explanation. We also find very disturbing the fact that you can write whatever you like on the appeal form without consulting us, knowing full well that we cannot present any kind of rebuttal.

Faye and Paul Miller

Willow