I'm rather astounded by the volume of people who say they should not have to pay any real estate taxes, that this is unfair, especially to those who have paid off their home. It baffles me and should remind us all just how misinformed, uninformed or manipulated people can be. So today, let me break down what real estate taxes pay for, so those that simply don’t know (or pretend they don’t), understand that someone else isn't going to pick up the tab for things they use daily.

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, infrastructure and pensions. Even those that have never had kids attend school, have to pay for this. 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) and their (BIG) pensions. 
3. Infrastructure & Transportation: Maintenance and construction of roads, highways, bridges, and sidewalks.
4. Municipal Services: Garbage collection, sewer, water and storm-water management.
5.  Community Services: Public parks, recreational facilities, libraries and social services. 

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. These shifts often raise concerns about disproportionately burdening lower-income residents, affecting local services like schools, police and potentially requiring significant rate increases or new revenue streams. Should part-time owners, renters pay more or all real estate taxes even though they use the local services and amenities far less than full-timers? I don't think so.