Q : Why are my property taxes so high they seem to be creeping up every year?

A : Real estate (property) taxes primarily fund local government services, including public school districts, police and fire protection, road maintenance, and sanitation. These taxes, based on property value, also support libraries, parks, and municipal employee salaries, often accounting for a significant portion of local municipal budgets. States with no or low state income taxes need funding for all these services. Big cities often cost much more to operate, and the older the city, the more costly too.

1. Public Schools: A major portion of property tax revenue goes toward school district operations, teacher salaries, and infrastructure. And pensions. I think educated kids are a good thing for society at large … and the economy.

2. Public Safety: Funding for police departments, fire departments, and emergency medical services (EMS). (Yes, I am a law-abiding citizen, and would happily pay only when and if I need a cop, fireman, etc for my home, but what would our towns/cities look like if there were no active, daily law enforcement? How would this be paid for? What would happen if there were a pay-as-you-go system, but people could not afford what would inevitably be exorbitant fees?)

3. Infrastructure & Transportation: Maintenance and construction of roads. (I often wonder where THIS tax goes for Petaluma Streets!) highways, bridges, and sidewalks. (I too would prefer not paying for this, but do I drive on those roads and bridges? Yes! Does my Uber? Yes! As do my yard maintenance people driving to my home)

4. Municipal and Community Services: Public parks, recreational facilities, libraries, and social services. (Who will pay for this? Which ‘select few’ will have to foot the bill? Take these things out of a town and watch what happens to real estate values…..?)

Real estate taxes are collected by local governments—counties, cities, towns, and school districts—to support local amenities that directly affect community quality of life ….and property values.

Towns/cities/suburbs without these amenities and services cannot function. Are there abuses and careless overspending? Inefficiencies that require urgent attention? Of course. Maybe in that lies real solutions, but eliminating real estate taxes simply means that lost income has to be made up elsewhere. If states eliminate property taxes, they’d replace the lost revenue (around 70% of local funds) with increased sales taxes, higher income taxes, new fees/licenses, or by creating dedicated funds from eliminated exemptions, but these shifts often raise concerns about disproportionately burdening lower-income residents, affecting local services like schools and police, and potentially requiring significant rate increases or new revenue streams.