The property tax debate is absurd-let’s think this through

The issue is not the assessment on a home and it is not the tax rate applied to that assessment

The issue is the spending needs of your local community for schools and other services. Your taxes won’t go up unless expenses and spending increase. Municipalities also have debt service to pay-on municipal bonds often approved by voters.

National polls consistently show the majority of Americans say teachers are underpaid and some people say they are willing to pay higher taxes to pay teachers more – ha!

Generally, half or more of a property tax bill is for the operation of local schools, including the salaries and benefits for teachers. 80-85% of teachers still have a traditional pension plan although in some cases a modified plan applies to new hires. About 14% of civilian private industry American workers have a pension.

The real conundrum is that with property taxes citizens see the direct relationship between the things they want (often approve), need and demand from local governments and the cost of those services.

Suddenly, they don’t like what they see.

If property taxes go up just because the assessed value on homes increases with no adjustment to the tax rate, the municipality is increasing its revenue. Citizens need to ask why, not simple rant about their property taxes.

If reassessment occurs, the idea is to fairly distribute the taxes based on growing values, but if that is the case, the tax rate is adjusted so revenue is neutral.

You can’t simply demand no increases in property taxes or lower property taxes without understanding the consequences. That is true even if the tax burden is transferred (possibly to businesses) or replaced by new taxes (income or sales) which are likely to be less consistent, stable revenue for the community.