Saturday 25 September 2010

Ca c'est un bouchon !

Even though Thursday was supposed to be a day of strike action across France, the trésor public (Finance Department) was not so on strike that it couldn't accept my money. Tant pis...

On emerging from the hôtel de ville (Town Hall) €240 poorer, having just paid our taxes foncières (rates / Council tax) I encountered this meeting of monsters. At this time of year the stream of logging trucks is fairly steady. Across the road in the boulangerie it is like night descending when one of these goes by. No wonder their vitrine (plate glass shop window) cracked under the daily pressure of these huge vehicles rumbling past.

Susan

6 comments:

Diane said...

I am flabbergasted at your taxes foncières!! We were just over €400 last year and this year it has jumped to just over €900!!!!!! It has certainly made a huge hole in our retirement budget and we seriously have to think again!! We were both in a state of shock when it arrived. Diane

Susan said...

Diane: Taxes foncières are calculated on the nominal rental value of a property. Although we've done a lot of work, technically more than half the building is not habitable or does not count for tax purposes.

Diogenes said...

How often do you have to pay this?

Amanda said...

Wow!!! about the taxes and traffic.

Susan said...

Diogenes: once a year, plus the taxe d'habitation and the water bill. It all adds up to about €500 pa.

Nadège: that's the first time I've seen big trucks in all 3 directions at that intersection.

Diane said...

Susan I know how the taxes are worked out, but the jump in price is though us simply coverting one extra barn into a bedroom with a shower and loo!! Our tax habitation is also close to €600!!! We have few facilities not even a baker close by. Diane

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