Absolutely agree, we really don’t own our homes plus it’s constantly going up!
Yes!!
In Pennsylvania we were told that if we approved Casinos that our property taxes would be ELIMINATED. My property taxes have only gone up!!
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I agree. We have this illusion that we own our property and WE DO NOT.
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Sr.'s have paid in enough, Vets have paid enough. Property taxes should be excused for these catagories, AT LEAST.
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Purpose of the Proposal
The purpose of this proposal is to introduce legislation that would eliminate property taxes in all states, replacing them with alternative revenue models that do not burden homeowners with perpetual taxation. This change would increase economic stability, foster homeownership, and ensure that Americans can fully own their property without ongoing tax obligations.
Problem Statement
Property tax is a primary funding source for local governments and public services, but it imposes significant financial strain on homeowners, particularly those on fixed incomes, retirees, and lower-income families. Property taxes contribute to the following issues:
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Financial Instability for Homeowners: Constantly rising property taxes can lead to financial hardship, especially for homeowners who cannot afford these increases. This taxation disproportionately impacts the elderly, veterans, and middle-class families who may face foreclosure if unable to meet their tax obligations.
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Barriers to Homeownership: For many Americans, property tax creates an additional financial hurdle, discouraging people from purchasing homes and, in some cases, forcing existing homeowners to downsize.
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Economic Inefficiency: Local governments frequently reassess property values, leading to inconsistencies and disputes. The administrative costs of managing property taxes are significant, and funds could be allocated more efficiently with alternative revenue systems.
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Regional Inequality: Property taxes vary widely by locality, leading to inequitable public service quality across different communities. Wealthier areas with high property values benefit from better-funded schools, infrastructure, and public safety, while less affluent communities struggle to provide basic services.
Proposed Solution
To address these issues, we propose the elimination of property taxes nationwide, to be replaced by a combination of alternative funding mechanisms. These alternatives could include:
Federal Assistance Programs: Redirecting federal funds to states based on population and need, ensuring equitable distribution across regions.
Sales and Consumption Taxes: A slight increase in sales or luxury taxes could offset the revenue lost from property taxes without overburdening the average citizen.
Revenue from Natural Resources or State-Owned Enterprises: Some states can leverage income from natural resources, state lotteries, or publicly-owned utilities to support local budgets.
Income Tax Adjustments: For states that already have an income tax, slight adjustments could supplement lost property tax revenue. This would shift the tax burden to income rather than property, benefiting homeowners.
Benefits of the Proposal
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Enhanced Economic Stability: Eliminating property taxes would reduce the financial strain on homeowners, particularly vulnerable populations. It would make homeownership more affordable, encouraging economic growth and wealth-building for middle-class Americans.
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Greater Financial Security for Retirees and Low-Income Families: Seniors, veterans, and low-income families would no longer face the threat of losing their homes due to tax increases, providing them with stability and security in their homeownership.
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Increased Homeownership Rates: Reducing the cost of homeownership by eliminating property taxes would likely increase home-buying rates, especially among young adults and first-time buyers, contributing positively to the economy.
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More Equitable Public Funding: By reducing dependence on property tax, we can create a fairer distribution of public funds, ensuring that essential services such as education and infrastructure are not determined solely by local property wealth.
Implementation Plan
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Legislative Introduction: Getting focus on this matter and drawing up the bill for introduction.
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Transition Funding: Establish temporary federal assistance to support states during the transition period, ensuring that essential services remain uninterrupted while alternative revenue streams are set up.
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Alternative Revenue Development: States would adopt a combination of revenue options (e.g., adjusted income or sales taxes, resource revenues) tailored to their unique economic conditions.
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Gradual Phase-Out: Property taxes could be phased out over a set period (e.g., 3-5 years) to provide states, local governments, and homeowners time to adapt.
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Monitoring and Adjustment: Conduct regular evaluations to ensure that the new revenue systems effectively replace property tax income without imposing undue hardship on citizens.
Conclusion
Eliminating property tax across all states is a bold and transformative move that could lead to a fairer, more equitable tax system while supporting economic stability for homeowners. This proposal offers a pathway to replace property taxes with alternative revenue models, reducing the financial burden on American families and creating a more just funding system for essential services.
Let me know what you think of this
7 Likes
I’m in Oregon and we never had property taxes till early 80’s because they were paid by logging revenues. Then our state got stupid with animal rights from the government and it stopped! Fires became worse also we went from the average fire a year maybe 10,000 acres to 300,000 acres and bigger! I believe we need to bring back logging in Oregon it’s our main resource to pay property taxes that would help many people buy homes, because a lot of time people can’t get financing because they taxes kick them out of what they can afford. Also logging brings our lumber mills back to small
Towns. Our taxes have gotten so bad with new levy’s, people just can’t keep up anymore. On top of it we have to pay fire insurance which has increased from the fires and home owner insurance. It’s a mess and we need help
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I don’t mind paying taxes on my property but I wish it were based on something other than home values. In my case I lost my husband in March and 2/3 our income. I shouldn’t have to worry about selling my home because I can’t afford the taxes.
We worked our whole lives to have a home of our own. Wasn’t the federal government was directly involved in the economy that caused my property taxes to go up substantially. Everyone says it’s a state tax. Additionally I pay local taxes along with my city and federal taxes.
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Absolutely!! We already paid loads of interest before we paid off our house and now have to pay huge property taxes. This has to stop! Too many people losing a house they paid off because of property tax. It should be ours, free and clear.
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I agree! No one oversees the budget of our property taxes. For all we know, our hard earned money could be lining the pockets of those in charge.
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and probably is! Given what we are learning about our current government, we know its lining someones pockets. Look at the schools and such it is supposed to be helping. Maybe I wouldn’t have to homeschool all my kids if the taxes were doing what they were supposed to be doing.
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Property taxes help pay for the all the infrastructure and community around the property so it can exist. This is not a good idea.
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Fully agree to eliminate or drastly reduce.
In other countries like France, the property tax is 1/10th of what it is in California where i live.
When someone retires, property taxese should be eliminated. It is not right to tax property on folks who now live off social security.
Reducing or eliminating property tax will boost local economy.
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100% support this!
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The only properties that should be assessed for property tax are ones that you are making money off of
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YES! To apply property taxes is to say there are consequences for not paying them! At the very LEAST property taxes should be non existent once the house is paid off! What kind of America do we live in where you don’t even own the land your house is on unless you pay taxes?!
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I like the idea, but to further it, end property taxes only for a primary residence. Am investor buying up land lots and just sitting on the property without using it needs to pay land taxes, otherwise corporations could just buy all land and hold it indefinitely. Only land in which you reside and provide proof that you live there and the property is in your name. This would help farmers who live on their farm, and families who buy a home, and people who retire on fixed income. It also prevents corporations and individuals from sitting on land without contributing anything for it.
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I would say end property tax for home and small businesses, NOT from large investors. They need to pay through the nose, if they want to take up all land that should be more equally distributed. Land is something everyone should have a right to, and the only way to do that is to be fair and not let billionaires and China buy all the land and houses
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Property tax is the way government ensures they always have a way to control you. You can choose on most other taxes (although normally you have to). But an American should be able to sit on their land, not go anywhere and not fear government taking their land or harassing them.
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I would like to propose an AMENDMENT: To end Property taxes once the home is Paid off.
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