Our tax consultant gave us their estimates on increases to property taxes for next year…30-40%

Our tax consultant gave us their estimates on increases to property taxes for next year…30-40%, then litigate and get down to 15-20%.
When you look at how much they have gone up in five years is there any wonder why rents have gone up so much?
And now the same inefficient governments that raise these taxes say that rent control is the answer…
*rant off*

 I concur with your assessment.

Elections have consequences. For what businesses and residents pay in taxes and contribute to community well being, it is OK to hold elected officials and local services accountable.

Be a voice for positive change or We the People are governed instead of served.

For most of the states it is in their constitution that property taxes are function of the values of the property.

So the property increased in value. No one “raised your taxes”

I get that it is fun to complain, you get to just point at things you don’t like without doing the hard work of trying to figure out a new and better equitable system that would actually function.

Uhmm, actually that is quite easy and several states have done it, just cap the maximum amount of increase per year.
A huge component of providing affordable housing thus solved. This isn’t rocket science.

And no it is not “fun” to complain and yes, when what you pay year over year in taxes has increased over 20% you have indeed had your taxes raised.

California has Prop 13 which caps property taxes, but rents have skyrocketed regardless.

Turns out that supply and demand generally control the price, not the costs. As an example, whether a unit cost $500k or $700k to build doesn't really determine the price. The market (aka supply/demand) for that unit determines it.

Agreed. And kudos for an amazingly concise rant

You don’t have a tax problem you have an income problem. In my opinion, now more than ever housing providers need to look for ways to provide additional value residents are more than willing to pay for.

Don’t forget about how much insurance has gone up too!

After fighting with the county assessors where our properties are located when they raise our property taxes (which is a very time consuming endeavor -- they send them out every year around April 15th, when you are trying to get your Fed and State Taxes done -- and you only have so many days to file an appeal), we have decided to give up on that and just raise the rents. We had been trying real hard not to raise rents for the past 2-3 years by trying to keep the property taxes from going up on our properties. Add in insurance premiums contininuing to climb, there are just not enough hours in the day to fight city hall.

Proving my point that rent increases are due in large part to govt actions.