A Property Tax 'Crisis'?

Tax assessors are taking a bigger bite out of household finances. Now taxpayers may be "biting back."

1 minute read

December 15, 2004, 6:00 AM PST

By Michael Dudley


"Part of the problem lies in demographics and the rapid growth of exurban communities. Young couples who can't afford suburban homes have moved to "edge" communities further from the cities. Those are filled with children, and to educate them the communities have to jack up property taxes to build new schools and hire teachers...The changing demographics have combined with an unusual economic phenomenon: home prices climbing at double-digit rates in some areas. This would make homeowners happy, except that an increasing number of communities are now assessing property values every year."

Thanks to Michael Dudley

Friday, December 3, 2004 in The Christian Science Monitor

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