He still pays full property tax on the house, and a city official challenged him for having an unapproved shipping container on the property to store salvaged belongings.

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Several price indices point to stabilising house values, which should buoy up property-tax revenues and education budgets.

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Another unpopular property tax is stamp duty, which is paid by house-purchasers.

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The House of Representatives has already voted to repeal the estate tax on inherited property.

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It also argues for more taxes on property, such as a land value tax or a reformed council tax, to suppress rises in house prices.

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