Growing Movement to Eliminate Property Taxes for Homeowners Across US States
Anti-tax advocates are spearheading a significant push to completely abolish property taxes for homeowners in several American states, marking a notable escalation in what experts describe as a "property tax revolt era." This movement, gaining momentum during an election year, aims to relieve homeowners from what proponents describe as "rent to the government," but faces substantial questions about how to replace billions in lost revenue for essential public services.
State-by-State Efforts to Phase Out Property Levies
Multiple states are pursuing distinct approaches to eliminate homeowner property taxes. In Georgia, Republican House Speaker Jon Burns has unveiled a complex plan to phase out homeowner property taxes by 2032, proposing to shift the burden to sales taxes instead. Meanwhile, Florida's GOP Governor Ron DeSantis has declared elimination of nonschool property taxes on homeowners as his objective, with lawmakers considering a ten-year phase-out period.
Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott has expressed his desire to eliminate property taxes specifically for schools, while North Dakota is already utilising earnings from its substantial $13.4 billion oil tax savings account to gradually wipe out homeowner property taxes. Officials there reported that expanded tax credits eliminated property taxes for 50,000 households last year alone.
The Human Impact and Political Momentum
The movement resonates strongly with homeowners like Tim Hodnett, a 65-year-old retiree from Lawrenceville, Georgia, whose annual property tax bill increased from $2,000 to $3,000 between 2018 and 2024. "It would be nice to be exempt from property taxes," Hodnett remarked, highlighting how rising property values have significantly inflated tax burdens for many Americans.
Republicans are framing the issue around fundamental property rights, with Georgia's Speaker Burns asserting, "No one should ever face the loss of their home because they can't pay rent to the government." This rhetoric echoes broader anti-tax sentiment that has historical precedent, most notably California's Proposition 13 in 1978 which limited property tax rates and valuation increases.
Substantial Financial Implications and Replacement Challenges
The financial stakes are enormous. Georgia's proposal alone would eliminate $5.2 billion in homeowner property taxes—more than a quarter of the $19.9 billion collected in 2024. Florida officials estimate $19 billion in property taxes collected from homeowners for primary residences. The critical question remains whether local governments and K-12 schools should be expected to cut spending dramatically or find alternative revenue sources.
Adam Langley of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy cautioned, "I think the complete elimination of the property tax for homeowners is really going to be very difficult in most states and localities around the country, and undesirable in most places." This sentiment reflects widespread concern about maintaining adequate funding for schools, emergency services, and local infrastructure.
Complex Implementation and Political Hurdles
The Georgia proposal illustrates the complexities involved. It would gradually increase the shielded home value from taxation from $5,000 to $150,000 by 2031 before abolishing most homeowner property taxes in 2032. However, the plan requires Democratic support to meet the two-thirds threshold for a state constitutional amendment, followed by voter approval in November.
Local governments would retain the ability to charge homeowners for specific services like garbage collection, street lighting, and fire protection through yearly bills—though lawmakers insist these wouldn't be classified as taxes. The proposal also limits yearly property tax revenue growth to 3% on other property types and maintains combined sales tax caps that might prevent full revenue recovery.
Broader National Context and Future Prospects
This property tax revolt extends beyond these four states, with ballot initiatives potentially emerging in Oklahoma and Ohio to eliminate all property taxes. Previous attempts in North Dakota (2024) and Nebraska faced defeat or failed to reach ballots, though organisers continue their efforts. Another initiative in Michigan may also struggle to secure ballot placement.
Manish Bhatt, vice president of state tax policy at the Tax Foundation, observed, "We're very much in this property tax revolt era, which is not unique, it's not new. We've seen these revolts in the past." As states experiment with different approaches—from North Dakota's oil-funded credits to Georgia's proposed sales tax shift—the coming years will reveal whether this ambitious anti-tax movement can achieve its goals without crippling essential public services.
