NATIONAL

Affordable housing ballot measures approved around the country
NPR
Gas prices got a lot of attention from candidates these midterm elections, but rents and home prices that skyrocketed during the pandemic are a far bigger chunk of people's budgets — and those increases are fueled by a historic housing shortage. Voters in dozens of cities were asked to approve more spending for affordable housing, and in some places they did so overwhelmingly.

ARIZONA

Prop. 130: Property tax exemptions for disabled vets passing in early results
AZ Central
Voters have approved Proposition 130, meaning property tax exemptions will be restored for veterans with disabilities in the state, according to the Associated Press. Property tax exemptions reduce the assessed value of a person's real estate, thereby decreasing the property taxes they owe. The amount of savings depends on several factors, such as where the person lives, their annual income and how much their property is worth.

COLORADO

Boulder County voters shoot down tax-funded library district proposition
Daily Camera
This measure asked voters in Boulder and parts of unincorporated Boulder County — including Gunbarrel, Gold Hill and Eldorado Springs — if they supported a property tax-funded library...

FLORIDA

Miami voters approve district's measure to boost teacher pay
Miami Herald
At about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Miami-Dade public school leaders cheered the outcome of the district's $400 million plan to increase property taxes to boost teacher pay and support school safety. The referendum, which faced an uphill climb as voters were already reeling from higher prices for food and gas and a rapid rise in interest rates, passed with about 65% of the vote with nearly all the county's 1,049 precincts reporting.

GEORGIA

Voters pass four statewide ballot proposals by large margins
moultrieobserver.com
Two amendments to the Georgia Constitution drew the strongest support. A constitutional change prohibiting statewide elected officials and members of the General Assembly from being paid after they have been indicted for a felony and suspended from office passed with 88.5% of the vote.

ILLINOIS

Pritzker, Kaegi, Pappas Reelected, and Voters Hike Property Tax
The Real Deal
Illinois voters signaled they're pleased with the status quo, locking in three incumbents with influence over real estate policies to new terms on victories by large margins. Most notably for real estate players, Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi defeated Libertarian challenger Nico Tsatsoulis with 82 percent of the votes, while Gov. J.B. Pritzker cruised to reelection against Republican Darren Bailey.

Trump Tower Chicago: Cook County Board of Review lowers value of hotel
Crain's Chicago Business
A Cook County panel has slashed the assessed value of Donald Trump's Chicago hotel, sparing the property from a potentially big tax hike in the process.

INDIANA

Indiana voters reject 4 of 8 school referendums for property tax increases
WFYI
Four of the eight Indiana school districts with ballot questions to approve property-tax levies failed to receive voter approval Tuesday in the midterm election. Leaders at Brown County Schools, Delphi Community School Corp. in Carroll County, Medora Community School Corp. in Jackson County, and MSD of Wabash County could not convince their communities to support the extra cost to property bills.

LOUISIANA

Voters reject amendment affecting property tax adjustments
Business Report
Louisiana voters rejected a proposed state constitutional amendment meant to give local taxing authorities more flexibility with millage rate adjustments. Both chambers of the state Legislature unanimously approved putting Amendment 5 on Tuesday's ballot, and it had the support of the Council for a Better Louisiana. The business lobby did not take a position.

OHIO

Paulding County voters approve 10 levies, including a big one in Grover Hill
crescent-news.com
Paulding County voters said yes to every issue on the ballot Tuesday, including two replacement levies and one additional tax. In Grover Hill, voters supported a chunky tax increase for police protection — a 10-mill, 5-year levy — by a 59-18 count. This was almost the same support (59-16) that Grover Hill voters gave to a 9-mill, 5-year property tax renewal levy for current expenses.

OKLAHOMA

Oklahoma City Public Schools passes $955 million bond
Oklahoman
The biggest bond issue in Oklahoma City Public Schools' history, worth $955 million in total, passed Tuesday, inching past the 60% threshold for approval. Proposition 1, which asked for $936 million for school improvements, received 64% of the vote from district residents. The second proposition, requesting $19 million for school buses and vehicles, gained 62%.

OREGON

The Owner of An Abandoned Car Wash Doesn't Have to Pay Property Taxes Because He Pledges It Will Someday Be Affordable Housing
Wweek
The owner of the property, 28-year-old California timber heir George Schmidbauer, says it will be another two years before construction on a low-income apartment complex begins—and that's only if he gets more financing from the state. Meanwhile, he pays no property taxes.

TEXAS

Voters reject Fort Bend ISD tax rate measure meant to address a budget deficit
Houston Chronicle
A Fort Bend ISD measure to maintain the district's current property tax rate to help address a budget deficit failed to find favor with voters, according to...

WASHINGTON

Metro Parks Tacoma levy restored, property tax to increase
Tacoma News Tribune
Voters on Tuesday were approving Proposition 1, which would restore a Metro Parks Tacoma levy to support its parks and recreation maintenance and operations. More than 62 percent of voters approved the proposition. Rosemary Ponnekanti, Metro Parks Tacoma's spokesperson, said Tuesday night that the results are a vote of confidence for Metro Parks.

OK County property owners see big spikesin valuation notices
Methow Valley News
When property owners across the county received notices of their property value last month, some experienced a unique version of sticker shock — the price of something they already own. Amid a tight real estate market and active bidding wars, appraisals by the Okanogan County assessor's office were up by about 30% to 50% across the board. Yet some homeowners saw the value of their home more than double.

WEST VIRGINIA

Amendment Two on personal property taxes is resoundingly defeated
WV MetroNews
Amendment Two, the hottest issue on West Virginia ballots, was defeated on Election Night. “It was an absolute, ill-fated idea,” said Gov. Jim Justice, who campaigned around the state against the amendment. The governor added, “We've heard the voice of the people.” The MetroNews decision desk called Amendment Two as defeated after the measure fell behind by thousands of votes.