PHOENIX, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Officials in several U.S. states are looking for ways to help property owners cope with higher property taxes due to rising real estate values.
One approach to the problem involves lowering the amount of public education funding by real estate taxes, Stateline.org reported.
A recent report from the Tax Foundation concluded that nearly half of all states' property taxes go directly to public school funding.
Talk of property-tax cuts has been increasing as the governors of Arkansas, Florida, Maine, Montana, Vermont and Virginia have proposed such measures.
The Arizona communities of Rio Verde and Troon even established a school district to help residents avoid the increased taxes. However, Stateline.org reported, the district has no schools and the residents send their kids to schools in other districts.
Arizona state Sen. Linda Gray has proposed legislation to prohibit communities creating phantom school districts to keep their property tax bills down.
