My basement -- a new chapter

[Ridgerunner]

Chickie's I don't know when it all changed. Louisiana was under the Napoleonic Code in stead of English Common Law, I think a lot of it's civil law still is. Practicing law in Louisiana, especially civil stuff like inheritance, can be pretty challenging for lawyers from out of state. Each State is different. The Federal Government has control over a few things but the basic workings inside each state is mostly left up to the state. Cities and Counties (parishes in Louisiana) have local control over some things too.

If you do the tourist thing and tour the plantation mansions or just older buildings in Louisiana you will not see closets, or at least extremely few.

 

[digitS']

This conversation prompted me to look up some historical information on US property taxes in general.

It wasn't too enlightening. The "varied by state" applies but it's interesting that property taxes stretch back to colonial times in some places. Initially, wikipedia tells us, it was mostly an assessment based on quantity. Later, some states and jurisdictions used value and that became more common. So, I guess that taxes were so much an acre, maybe each house was charged so much.

Moving to value, it seems like a good way for graft to enter the picture. What do you suppose the value of a "dog trot" was? What about 2 kitchens - one in the house and the other at about 30 yards from the backdoor?

It's a little surprising that Saint Matthew was a tax collector. And, not surprising at all that scientist Lavoisier spent his last moments at the guillotine during the French Revolution.

Steve

 

[Chickie'sMomaInNH]

heh, i was expecting my tax bill any time so today grab my mail and 'surprise', it was in the box!

 

[Smart Red]

Here we are assessed by living space not the number of rooms. Closets are counted in total living space taxed. Basements are not unless they have "finished" walls and ceilings. I never thought to ask about garages, although I know they are not figured as living space in real estate sales brochures. Some real estate agents count basements in total sq. footage even if they are not usable, but tax assessors do not.

For other buildings on the property, the foot print of the building provides the square footage of tax liability. A second story on a non-house building adds nothing to the taxes.

Death and taxes. No one gets away from them.

 

[Smart Red]

At Ridgerunner's suggestion all work has stopped pending the electrician adding a sub panel. Great idea, Ridge! He says he'll be here the second weekend of the new year and, if we run all the circuits, he will hook them up at the same time all for a fair price.

This week DH, DS, and I plan to go shopping for AV equipment. Getting excited!

 

[Nyboy]

What is AV ?

 

[catjac1975]

I have in the back of my mind to one day line my bedroom closet with cedar.

I almost did that-come to find out I am horribly allergic to cedar. What a mistake that would have been for me.

 

[so lucky]

Maybe she hit the V instead of the C key.

 

[Ridgerunner]

At Ridgerunner's suggestion all work has stopped pending the electrician adding a sub panel. Great idea, Ridge! He says he'll be here the second weekend of the new year and, if we run all the circuits, he will hook them up at the same time all for a fair price.

This week DH, DS, and I plan to go shopping for AV equipment. Getting excited!

Glad I was helpful. Experience can be the best teacher. I look at it as every grey hair is from a mistake I learned something from, whether I still have it or it fell out years ago. That's why I don't do comb-overs.

 

[Smart Red]

What is AV ?

Audio Visual (AV) equipment for the theater: projector, speakers, PlayStation, BlueRay player, and whatever else needs be there. The use of the term AV is a leftover from teaching.

Thanks again, Ridgerunner. I was concerned that I only had the two spaces in the circuit board where the AC had been. That would have been pushed to (perhaps past) the limit once the growing room was set up. Of course, I never thought of adding a sub-panel.

I drill holes, run wire, and hook up switches and outlets and lights and such, but I don't "DO" electricity. Once I mentioned your suggestion to DS, he jumped on the idea as a definite go and the rest (as they say) is history.