We’ve been on the verge of having to sell our home due to taxes. Every year it’s scary tight, tight, tight. Every dime goes to taxes. Maintenance is out the door. Vacations or just date night is also out the door. The grocery budget is $5 per day per person (have had many discussions on FR about this) and I’m down to sewing my clothes from thrift store fabrics. We need to stay for our elderly relatives. Taxes have gone up 10% every year. Who’s pay goes up that rapidly? Back when, taxes were only 2 weeks of income so very manageable.
A few years ago, half the houses on our street were on the market because long time residents couldn’t afford to pay the tax bill. Next door neighbors have family here so their only option was to continue working past when they were to retire. A few others are in the same boat.
This is a GOP county but it’s changing with CA imports and being close to Austin.
I was in the same boat in Houston 20 years ago. My property taxes went up about 10% per year. Got out of Harris county and life was much better.
That is ONE thing that California got right. The 1978 Prop 13 set property taxes at 1% of the sale price and limited annual increases to inflation or 2% whichever is higher.
The libs have been fighting to overturn 13 or chip away at ever since the day it passed.
Somehow our counties manage to survive, pave the roads, operate the schools, provide police and fire protection services.