Not being a wingnut but rather liberal really I am forced to wonder what structure you live in? Average increase where I live was $500 this cycle as they did you every three years and in the 5 years I have owned my home they went from 2400 to 3800. Been a change so they are supposed to do it each year but those appraised before the drop are stuck though until next year so they got to enjoy the extra two ride.

A home worth ( structure ) 200k and 10 acres will cost you about $4500 a year to 5k ( or more ) depending on out buildings and big barns hurt. Around here we were not to bad off until recently as the cheaper housing has drawn people from out of the area which in turn drove up values.

As to how property taxes get spent depends on where you live as it differs but after the state takes its cut ( which goes to the general fund I am told ) come local. In unincorporated GH 4% of the property owners pay 95% of the tax a commissioner once told me. Timber lands, government, and senior discounts ( have to have a poverty income ) will get a deferral. SCHOOLS GET BIG CHUNCK BUT MOST OF THE COUNTY PROPERTY TAX GOES TO THE COURT SYSTEM. In fact the judges almost put a contempt order on the county over funding ( indigent lawyer fees the big driver ) In fact every time the legislature passes another unfunded mandate the counties freak out. My favorite is the dead beat Dad bit. Great I said throw the bums in jail. Uh huh the commissioner said. The ones that are not paying because they are SOB's are few. Come to find out most just can not make the support, ex is on welfare, so DSHS has the support directly paid to them, so if you are out of work, laid off, screwed up, new job does not pay that well, in the slammer you go at tax payer expense.

A tweaker busted? We pay the legal not the state. In fact the state has been shoveling crap at the cities and counties from education, law enforcement, enviro and local government foots the bill with what? Sales and property tax.

So to my original post. When a ex employee can show savings to help maintain services and the state refuses to address the issue, yes it pisses me off. People are hurting and pissing money away to protect a system that is getting close to ineffective does the tax payer and those in need a disservice.