Guest MINDSETTER™ Tom Letourneau: Time to Fix Vehicle Valuation Process

Guest MINDSETTER™ Tom Letourneau: Time to Fix Vehicle Valuation Process

A number of months ago, after receiving my 2011 car tax bill, I went into a state of shock and awe at the audacity of those responsible for assigning the vehicle values that are then used by local tax assessors in order to create another debt for taxpayers.

Being retired, after a 47-year career in the automotive industry, I have a good of what values should be, more so than some of the assessors. So after doing some sleuthing, I discovered that the entire process is badly flawed and unfortunately it is a process that came about because of an ill-conceived and not thought out piece of legislation.

After I wrote several letters to the editor, a lot of citizens began to speak out demanding change and fairness in establishing vehicle values. Unfortunately these people found out that the process is not something that is controlled by their own home town tax assessor and that would require legislative action to bring about change.

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I just met with a State Rep the other day on this matter and I also found out that another state rep, from Warwick, is supposed to be, immediately at the opening of the 2012 legislative session, introducing legislation to completely revamp this process.

Unfortunately, it looks like the vehicle tax issue is being pushed way onto the back burner and that any tax relief may be difficult as the state prepares to faces casino gaming competition.

That’s why I believe that if you want to see something happen, and you want some form of tax relief, you have to contact every State Rep. and Senator.

Here are some solutions to offer:

1) Restore the Vehicle Tax Phase Out program as it had originally been put in place by Pawtucket State Representative Tony' Pires back when he was serving as the 'House Finance Committee Chairman.

2) Get some members of the Rhode Island Automobile Dealers Association involved....who better then the experts are more qualified to come up with a way of establishing a more realistic value on vehicles then what is currently in place.

The time has long since come and gone for the many inequities that exist in this state to be addressed and done away with.

Tom Letourneau is a 69-year old, retired, auto industry executive.