Property tax bills have risen sharply across the country, driven by rising home values and weak assessment limits. Texas, Colorado, Georgia, and other states are experiencing tax revolts, with homeowners filing record challenge numbers and lawmakers debating reforms ahead of midterm elections.
Where
Statewide (Texas); also Colorado, Illinois, Georgia, Vermont
When
Recent months, with property tax protests ongoing and Nov. 3 midterm elections approaching
In Texas, appraisal challenges hit record levels in many counties as rising home values pushed taxes higher. Lawmakers have spent the past four years debating possible solutions.
Property tax bills in Cook County, Illinois South and West Sides neighborhoodsnearly doubled1Who pays or receives it: homeowners
Median property tax bills increase in Georgia counties20% or more2Who pays or receives it: homeowners
Property tax bill spikes in Metro Atlanta counties (Clayton and Rockdale)more than 50%2Who pays or receives it: homeowners
Who's involved
Texas lawmakersdebating possible solutions to property taxes
Fulton County school districtscheduled two public hearings to discuss proposed property tax increase
Clayton County school boardraised its millage rate
The facts
In Texas counties, appraisal challenges hit record levels as rising home values pushed taxes higher.1
Property tax rates have risen faster than inflation in recent years across multiple states.12Stated by 2 sources
In Denver, appraisal challenges jumped 600 percent after property charges surged in 2023.1
More than a dozen states are debating new or expanded property tax reforms.1
Fulton County school district scheduled two public hearings this month to discuss proposed property tax increase.2
Clayton County school board raised its millage rate this year.2
Who said what
These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.
A Chicago protester Property tax bill bonfire likened to Boston Tea Party, objecting to taxation without representation.1
A pastor at a Chicago church This system is rigged. It can't be fair.1
Where the sources disagree
Source 2 contains substantial corrupted/unreadable text Source 1 provides clear information on property tax protests and reforms; Source 2 text is largely garbled after discussion of Georgia and Atlanta areas
How they headlined it
The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.
These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.
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Christian Hardigree, President of Texas A&M University-Victoria; AJ Louderback, Texas State Representative; Lois Kolkhorst, Texas State Senator and 4 more
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Patrick Von Dohlen, Republican candidate for Bexar County judge; Ron Nirenberg, Democrat candidate for Bexar County judge; Rob Giesecke, Republican candidate for Brazoria County judge and 3 more
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Travis County Clerk Dyana Limon-Mercado, Travis County Clerk; Bexar County Elections Administrator Michele Carew, Bexar County Elections Administrator; Dallas County Elections Administrator Paul Adams, Dallas County Elections Administrator and 2 more
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$$60 million for campaign funds raised, third quarter 2026
James Talarico, Democrat candidate for Texas Senate; Ken Paxton, Republican candidate for Texas Senate; Elon Musk, Tech billionaire and super PAC backer of Republican candidates
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Rasheem Biles, Texas senior linebacker; Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, award sponsor