A Revolt May Be Brewing Among Homeowners

A story at Politico Magazine finds that a tax revolt is gaining traction across the nation on a scale not seen in half-a-century. This particular revolt concerns property taxes, with more homeowners wondering why they have to pay the government a tax for the privilege of living in a residence they own. "The 1970s property tax uprising that one journalist called a 'Revolt of the Haves' reshaped American politics," writes Liam Dillon. "The depth and breadth of today's proposals threaten to do so once again." The story notes that plans to cut or even eliminate property taxes have emerged in more than two dozen states over the past two years, assuaging homeowners shocked to see their tax bills soar because of rising housing prices.

Lots of dynamics are at play, including internal ones within the GOP. Conservative Republicans tend to see property taxes as a sensible way to pay for local services, writes Dillon, but more populist ones are gaining sway. The story notes, however, that the movement has advocates on the left as well, including socialist Francesca Hong, who nearly won the Democratic gubernatorial primary in Wisconsin. Economic historian Judge Glock says more advocates are buying into the idea that property taxes turn homeowners into "vassals" who could lose possession of their homes over unpaid taxes. "That branding has been one of the most successful political slogans in modern memory," Glock says. The story focuses on the movement in Ohio, with Dillon writing that it appears to be "organic" in nature—driven at the grass-roots level. Read it in full here.