She's astounded by plan
to increase tax bite here

Dear A.M. Costa Rica:

In regard to the astounding property tax hike described in Tuesday's A.M. Costa Rica article, I can only describe my reaction as alarmed, insulted and disappointed.

I'm alarmed because this tax hike may well make a serious impact on my budget. I'm alarmed because this could mean Costa Rica is no longer affordable for me or for the many "Baby Boomers" that Costa Rica is banking on to invest and retire here. A tax increase of this magnitude could send many expats packing for home or to other countries. Though tax revenue is desperately needed here, this is a clear case of biting the hand that feeds you.

I'm insulted because this draconian tax hike reflects the Costa Rican mindset that all Gringos/foreigners are rich, rich and foolish enough to pay preposterous taxes. A substantial number of the expats who invest here and contribute daily to the Costa Rican economy are not rich or foolish. And our dollars are hard earned. We spend them as wisely as possible.

We all watch the "bottom line" and when that "bottom line" looks too risky, as it does now with this tax hike, we pack up and move on. It may also come as a surprise to Costa Rica that rich foreigners, retirees and investors, got rich and stay rich by watching the "bottom line" closely. They have the financial mobility to move elsewhere at the drop of a hat.

I'm disappointed that Costa Rica is courting the super rich without regard for its own socio economic future. As those of us from the U.S. well know, communities, regions, and small countries that cater to the super rich exclusively, do their citizens no favors. The middle class will shrink until Costa Rica is like its Latin American neighbors. There will be the super rich and their work force, the super poor who will never be able to afford to buy or pay taxes on homes or to purchase goods and services whose prices reflect the generous budgets of the rich consumer.

The jobs created by all the mega resorts coming to Costa Rica are dead end and mostly menial jobs that offer little or no opportunity for the employee to advance or acquire an education that would apply to anything outside the hospitality industry.

This tax hike is short-sighted and ill timed. Gringos here and at home are watching their dollars very closely due to economic hardships in the real estate market at home. Costa Rica doesn't look like such a good idea anymore!
 

Homeowner facing trial
is reversal of principle

Dear A.M. Costa Rica:

I am shocked to see such a reversal of the principles of justice as found in the story of a man apprehended and extradited internationally after an incident of lethally injuring a criminal in the process of defending his property.

Call me a Texan, but if someone tries to intrude on my property and does not respond to warnings or worse, is obviously breaking and entering, I feel I should have the right to take out and use, a firearm or any suitable weapon as a defense.

Not having that right or principle in force — instead having laws that protect violent intruders — may be the reason why criminals here feel they can peel up your metal roof and drop in with practical impunity.  And according to other reports I have seen, if they (and you) DO make it out alive, you are actually at grave risk of retaliation.  At risk of their return "to finish you off" for no better reason than the fact you reported them to the police.

I am not a violent person and do not advocate violence.  I do not even own a firearm.  But when I see law enforcement apprehending THE VICTIM in such an efficient manner, using MY TAX DOLLARS, when the thieves, including those who use firearms, poison the watchdogs (and in one instance that I know of, poisoning the victims!) and threaten the lives of residents who might resist such an intrusion, actually go free only hours after being apprehended?  Then I begin to wonder just how insane the justice system has gone. Does anyone else see the completely ridiculous lack of logic in all this?

The protection of criminals with laws that punish the victims and take away the right of self-defense presents an untenable existence for people who wish to live in peace and pursue prosperity.

For good reason the founding fathers of the United States of America insisted on the right to bear arms.  Not to encourage a violent society (it doesn't by statistics) but to DISCOURAGE violent intrusions — be they from rogue governments or rogue criminals.

The justice system here needs work.  But it's not just here — the real shocker is that more and more states in the U.S.A. have fallen away from basic constitutional principles of right to protect and defend one's property and person.


Panamá is no paradise,
ex-Ojochal homeowner says

Dear A.M. Costa Rica:

In today's publication there was an article about leaving Costa Rica and moving to Panama for lower taxes.

Before Mr. Garretson makes the move because of things like real estate taxes — he had better do some more research. Yes — some of the taxes are lower — but they have other taxes that make up for it. There is a tax relief for the house (but not the property) for 15 years up to some dollar figure for the pensionado and Panamá does have quite a few discount items that are nice (like a 25 percent discount on a meal at most eating establishments, up to 50 percent discounts for hotel stays and several other items).

Gasoline and cars are also cheaper. Mostly though, Panamá is NOT cheaper than Costa Rica. Property and house taxes are about 2 percent. Food costs are higher. Cost of property and housing is comparable to Costa Rica. The beauty of the land has been cut down for farming. Burning of the farm lands is very common and obnoxious. Panama is NOT  nearly as ecology conscious,

Generally the roads are better. Political corruption is as bad or worse than Costa Rica. It is just as slow to live here as it is in Costa Rica (14 months to build a house is normal). Cost of building is getting up to $80/sq ft (or more) (similar to Costa Rica), cost of electricity is MUCH higher, the water conditions in Panama are generally awful - and expensive).

The People are very nice and helpful in Panama. I do speak a little Spanish so I can get around here. But, in general, very little English is spoken in Panamá where in Costa Rica English seems to be generally everywhere.

I am writing you from the City of David. I moved here about six months ago from Ojochal. I am considering moving back to Costa Rica as I finish the house I am building at the moment and get it sold.

My home in Ojochal was an Ocean view home, 1/2 kms. from the ocean and on a mountain top. Absolutely beautiful. I place a price on the house that absolutely nobody would pay and then I got a call from Holland, and a gentleman gave me what I was asking and also gave me six months to move. I stupidly accepted the offer.

I now do live ON a beach (Playa Barqueta 26 kms. from David) with no trees, flat as a pancake and smells like over-grazed, over-fertilized farmland. I did not ask all the right questions when I purchased. My taxes are going to be excruciating. I am a pensionado and well over 65.

I am actually glad to see Costa Rica changing. IF they use the tax money wisely and make the taxes reasonable AND actually collect the taxes from everybody, they should be able to keep taxes reasonable.

Costa Rica also needs to enforce their immigration laws. Immigrants are NOT supposed to take the jobs from the TICO and they commonly do. The permanent tourist who simply pays about $30 to a Tico and has the passport taken to the border and stamped every 90 days is a joke. The expat should either be an expat or go home. I will have to say that Panamá does enforce their law here.


She's sick of complainers

Dear A.M. Costa Rica:

I lived in California over 30 years, and my property taxes when we left in 1989 were over $5,000 a year.  I expect they are at least double that now as the property values in that area have gone sky high — same as elsewhere in the US.

I just paid my annual property taxes in November  The municipality told me what I will be paying next year and for the following four years for a guaranteed property tax for five years.  (I have the papers to prove this amount.)  If this man thinks it is anywhere near what I paid in California and people are paying now, he needs to do some more research.

 Let him go to Panamá. I am tired of these complainers and especially the people who don't even live here and many who've never even been here.  Let them go elsewhere.