Property rights have already died. My house and small acreage of property have been paid off for some time. This reassessment, my property was assessed at 90% more than the previous reassessment and the result of that is my property taxes jumped 30%. So what I've realized is I don't own my property, the county does. Even though I paid the mortgage on it, the county still owns it and I lease it from them.
Private ownership of property is the basis of capitalism. Call it what you want, be this county isn't capitalist any more. It's moving farther and farther away from it each and every day.
Yeah really! My property is bought and paid for, yet the property taxes seem to go up every year. Just a couple years ago I inherited another 23 acres after my father passed. Its just bare property. Some wooded, and mostly field, with no buildings. Just on hat acreage alone my taxes for it are over a thousand dollars. If I were to put a building on it the taxes would go up even more. As you say, its not owned its just leased.
Yes, I paid cash for my last two homes and my recreation acreage, yet the taxes still rise. I have said in gest, to folks who say "I own my home, free and clear",
"if you think you own your home, try not paying your taxes for a while!"
Some states have what is called "homestead laws" which I understand, provides some sort of protection. The home I owned ..again cash paid, in Texas was I understand, covered by such a law, it seems.
However, I am not aware of the details, perhaps one of our Texans can fill us in.
