The evil property tax

Correspondent (and SF writer) Michael Z Williamson shared this with TPOL.

Many of us no doubt know of people that have found themselves in the same pickle that Ace’s neighbor has found herself. Indeed, some members of our TPOL team are in exactly that situation: their mortgage paid off years ago, and therefore their home, their property is “theirs, free and clear.” But every year, the levy goes up, the value goes up (even when the real estate market is in the doldrums), and so they have to pay and pay and pay.

And if they don’t? The county sells the property out from under them, usually pocketing the difference between the taxes owed and what the highest bidder paid for it.

Is it any wonder that virtually every State has some sort of tax rebellion – specifically against property taxes – going on? And that legislatures in various States are trying to play games and replace the income – steal the same amount of money from taxpayers (residents and visitors) but from a different pocket. For example, in South Dakota the legislature didn’t really cut the spending. Instead, they allowed counties in South Dakota to establish a county sales tax (for the first time) to allow the county to reduce the amount of money landowners had to pay in property taxes. No reduction in spending, no cutting of unnecessary services or other costs.

This amounts to little more than trying to hide which cup the ball is under. It may shift who pays for the exorbitant cost of local government (but not schools, at least in SD), but the burden is still on someone. In South Dakota, where no level of state or local government may run a deficit, it usually isn’t future taxpayers that will be gouged.

Of course, South Dakota depends heavily on federal funds, spent without consideration of how most of it is borrowed. So are other States where the property tax revolt is proceeding: places like North Dakota, Nebraska, and Wyoming.

The ever-increasing burden of property taxes has both impoverished and angered more and more people. But the ludicrous response of State lawmakers and the executive branch in State government has really pushed buttons. For example, in Nebraska, where property taxes amount to $6 billion a year, the governor “promised” relief, which was going to reduce property taxes by an incredible $20 million a year: an astonishing 1/3 of a percent!

Insult and injury? Too mild a phrase: given the inflation (courtesy of the FedGov and also the responsibility of State governments who get more and more federal aid), and therefore the rise in property “values” for homes and businesses, it didn’t even keep up. As the story above shows.

And even ten times that amount of “relief” will not.

To be blunt, it is NOT playing tax games (which pocket do we let government steal from) and trading off revenue sources that will solve this problem. Rather, it is a massive cut in government spending. Starting with all the “untouchable” pet projects of the city fathers and civic organizations.

• Parks and recreation: water parks, golf courses, sports complexes, hiking and biking trails, and subsidies for “visual and performing arts.” To name a few.
• Public transport: buses, vans, bike lanes, and more. And, overlapping, school bussing programs!
• School “enrichment programs” – starting with sports. Especially sports. But including social events and activities: school dances, field trips, and special programs. And more.
• Grandiose civic and educational buildings and grounds. Even if that involves buying and “renovating” formerly privately-owned and used business buildings.
• Layer upon layer upon layer of bureaucracy: the risk-management and analysis crowd, the mental health providers for harried local government employees and officials, the code enforcement goons, and more.

This is, of course, just a start. And many of the costs are actually dictated to counties, municipalities, and school and special districts by State and federal laws and agencies. And, of course, much of the spending is intended to benefit the political buddies (and contributors) of local politicians.

It is truly a Gordian knot, and Alexander’s solution may be the best, if not the only, one: slice right through it. After two millennia, perhaps it is time to turn Caligula’s famous quote around. He said, “I wish the Roman people had but one neck” to make it easier to strangle or behead them. Would that apply to the swarms of bureaucrats and other functionaries (parasites) in today’s local governments?

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Source: https://freedombunker.com/2026/09/18/the-evil-property-tax/