The recent rabid anti-property tax sentiment includes an unfortunate ignorance. Current property tax bills are composed of two very different taxes. The first is the tax on improvements. This is the part assessed on the value of yor home, business, and other capital. The tax on improvements should be eliminated.
The second is the tax on the value of the unimproved land. The value of land is mostly value created by the community. It is not the result of any action on the part of the landowner. As stated above, improvements made by the landowner should be free of taxation. But the land itself has little or no value except that imparted by the community. The taxation of this value is justified. Land value is increased by physical proximity to centers of economic activity, good schools, well-maintained streets, police and fire protection, sewers, and other infrastructure. The better these services, the higher the value of the land. It is the investment of the community that imparts value to land; it is only right that those who benefit from the community's investments should pay back the community. This is what Thomas Paine refered to as "ground-rent". This is the revenue source for LVT. This is what the classical economists termed "economic rent". It is a benefit received by those who own land without any investment of labor or capital. If you own the land, you receive this benefit as increased land value. If you lease land, it is what you are paying for.
The fact is, this "economic rent" is already being received by the landowner. Land Value Taxation simply returns it to the community.
Keep this in mind when you hear of "property tax" protests, and calls for the elimination of "property taxes". There are two different taxes included on your property tax bill. The first can be rightfully considered the worst possible tax, the other the best. Those who benefit from economic rent would certainly love to see "property taxes" repealed, allowing their wealth to accumulate without any labor or investment of capital.