Skyrocketing home values are driving up property tax bills, putting lower-income homeowners at risk of losing their homes.

There has been a lot of talk about how soaring home values, along with high interest rates, are making home ownership unaffordable for the majority of Americans. But it’s not just impacting home buyers. The average single family home price shot up nearly 40 percent over the last three years, resulting in increased property taxes for millions of homeowners. It’s a problem for fixed-income retirees and low-income homeowners in particular because property taxes tend to take a larger percentage of their income and they are at higher risk of losing their house when that bill skyrockets.
In response, state lawmakers across the country are seeking to ease the burden, reports Kevin Hardy from Stateline. Last year, Idaho legislature approved nearly $100 million in property tax relief for homeowners in the state’s most populous county and home to Boise, Ada County. That amounted to a median cut of more than $500 per home. Montana is offering rebates of up to $675 for 2023 and 2024, and has launched a task force charged with proposing a longer-term relief plan. In Wyoming, organizers are seeking to put a relief measure on the statewide ballot after legislative efforts failed. And Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen has proposed to offset a property tax reduction with a sales tax increase.
Jared Walczak, vice president of state projects at the Tax Foundation, told Stateline he expects many other states—both blue and red—to tackle the issue this year.
Critics of across-the-board property cuts many states are considering say they are not sustainable, particularly when state revenues decline. Some are concerned such cuts could erode revenue for school districts and local governments. Alternatives to cuts include capping how much valuations of a home can rise each year or restricting the amount rates can increase.
FULL STORY: State lawmakers seek to limit property tax increases as home values soar

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service