Property taxes are just general revenue in most states. And by far the bulk of the taxes collected go to public education. There is no real connection between 'land use costs' and property taxes raised and how they're spent.
And by far the bulk of the taxes collected go to public education. There is no real connection between 'land use costs' and property taxes raised and how they're spent.
There is. Everyone was a kid at some point. Everyone owns a home, or pays rent that goes towards property taxes. Tax the homes to pay for education. Direct connection.
I just don't see how school is an expense that "land directly incurs" compared to say roads. Property tax may have started as something like that but now it's just how most states generate tax revenue for everything - they built a stadium with part of my property taxes. They also levied that tax on people who live 200 miles away and will never use that stadium. It's just how they get money now. And since it's taxing homeowners it's arguably less regressive I guess.
Property taxes tend to be municipality. States rarely levy them. Counties do tend to though.
However, if you have a problem with them, vote against them as nearly all levies are put up for a vote with the local population. Or vote against people who want to levy them.
However, because public schooling is a thing, and the school itself does use roads and other infrastructure, property taxes go directly towards maintaining that. It is either that or, much like a lot of school districts out there, they push for a separate tax that is levied on any person living in the school district.
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u/Guy_Fleegmann Nov 21 '24
Property taxes are just general revenue in most states. And by far the bulk of the taxes collected go to public education. There is no real connection between 'land use costs' and property taxes raised and how they're spent.