Moral Problems with High Property Taxes

April 13, 2025
Seal SD Liberty

Detailed Analysis of the Moral Problems with High Property Taxes in South Dakota

This analysis examines the moral problems associated with high property taxes in South Dakota, their impact on families, and how they prevent economic growth, providing a comprehensive article for the user’s campaign website. The author, Jerry Odom, a liberty-minded patriot, with Trump-supporting platform, seeks to inform the public with snarky commentary to highlight these issues and promote their Liberty Forum event on April 19, 2025, at First Assembly of God in Rapid City.

Background and Context

High property taxes in South Dakota have long been a point of contention, placing a significant burden on families and hindering economic growth. As a state without a personal income tax, South Dakota relies heavily on property taxes for local government funding, which support schools, law enforcement, and infrastructure (South Dakota Department of Revenue). However, this system raises moral questions about fairness and liberty, especially when families struggle to afford basics while facing tax demands, and businesses shy away from investing due to high costs. Odom’s campaign to replace property taxes with a Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) aims to address these issues, aligning with a liberty-first vision that prioritizes family well-being and economic freedom.

Moral Problems of High Property Taxes

High property taxes in South Dakota create a moral crisis by placing an unfair burden on families, undermining their financial stability, and violating the fundamental liberty to own property free from excessive government overreach. The state collected $954 million in property taxes in 2021-22 (SD News Watch), a staggering amount that forces families into difficult choices, eroding the moral foundation of a free society where individuals should be able to keep their hard-earned property without fear of losing it to the taxman.

  • Financial Distress: With grocery prices soaring—eggs hit $6.23 per dozen in 2025 (Post ID: 0)—families are already stretched thin. Food prices rose 1.4% from November 2023 to 2024, but the cumulative impact since 2019 left 44 million Americans, including 13 million children, food-insecure by 2024 (USDA, Web ID: 4). Adding $954 million in property taxes on top of this is a moral outrage—families shouldn’t have to choose between feeding their kids and keeping a roof over their heads.
  • Moral Dilemma: High property taxes force families into a moral bind—pay the taxman or cover essentials. In South Dakota, where the average effective property tax rate in Custer County is 3.5% (SmartAsset, 2024), a family with a $200,000 home pays $7,000 annually, a heavy load when eggs alone cost $6.23 a dozen and inflation erodes purchasing power.
  • Violation of Liberty: Property taxes violate the liberty to own property free from excessive government burden, a core American value enshrined in the Fifth Amendment’s protection against property seizure without due process. South Dakotans deserve to keep their homes, not fund government excess—high taxes are a moral betrayal of that right.
  • Disproportionate Burden: Low-income families bear the brunt—property taxes are regressive, hitting those least able to pay the hardest. The Ludwig Institute (2025) found the true cost of living rose 9.4% in 2023, more than double the CPI’s 4.1%, meaning purchasing power fell 4.3% at the median (Web ID: 10). Progressives ignore this moral failing while preaching “equity.”

Impact on South Dakota Families

  • Financial Strain: The $954 million property tax burden (SD News Watch) exacerbates financial struggles for South Dakota families already grappling with high grocery costs—food inflation hit a 12% peak in 2022, and even at 1.4% in 2024, prices remain elevated (Web ID: 3). Families like those in Denver, spending 11.7% of their budget on food (Web ID: 15), face similar pressures in South Dakota, where every dollar counts.
  • Moral Crisis: Forcing families to choose between paying property taxes and affording necessities like food or healthcare is a moral crisis—40% of U.S. adults skipped treatment due to costs in 2024 (Web ID: 4). In South Dakota, this choice undermines the moral duty to protect family well-being.
  • Threat to Homeownership: High property taxes risk foreclosure for families unable to pay, especially in rural areas like Custer County, where the 3.5% rate adds up fast. The moral imperative to ensure families can keep their homes is violated when taxes drive them out.
  • Erosion of Liberty: Liberty means owning property free from government overreach—high property taxes turn that dream into a nightmare, with families living in fear of losing their homes to the taxman’s greed. This isn’t the American way; it’s a progressive betrayal of our values.

Preventing Economic Growth in South Dakota

  • Business Deterrence: High property taxes discourage new business investment—South Dakota’s rates, like Custer County’s 3.5% (SmartAsset, 2024), make it costlier to establish or expand. Small businesses, already reeling from 163,735 closures in 2020 (Yelp, Web ID: 15), face another hurdle, stifling job creation and growth.
  • Reduced Consumer Spending: With $954 million extracted in property taxes, families have less disposable income for local businesses—consumer spending drives 70% of the U.S. economy (Web ID: 5). In South Dakota, this means less money for mom-and-pop shops, slowing economic activity.
  • Stagnation Risk: Without new businesses or consumer spending, South Dakota’s economy faces long-term stagnation—progressive policies that ignore this reality are a moral failing, prioritizing government revenue over family prosperity.
  • Investor Hesitation: High property taxes signal a hostile environment for investors—why build in South Dakota when taxes eat into profits? This stifles innovation and growth, leaving the state lagging while progressive socialists pose as “economic saviors.”

Snarky Commentary: Progressive Socialists Posing as Americans

  • Tax Tyranny on Steroids: $954 million in property taxes (SD News Watch)—progressives love taxing you into the poorhouse while eggs hit $6.23/dozen (Post ID: 0). Liberty? More like liberty to starve while they fund their green tech grift!
  • Moral Bankruptcy: Forcing families to choose between taxes and food—44 million Americans food-insecure (USDA, Web ID: 4)—is a moral outrage, but progressives are too busy posing as “compassionate” to care. Liberty means feeding your kids, not the taxman!
  • Economic Sabotage: High taxes kill growth—South Dakota’s economy stalls while progressives pat themselves on the back for “revenue.” Liberty means businesses thrive, not survive—try telling that to these fake patriots!
  • Freedom Fraud: Progressives claim to care about families, but their tax policies drive folks out of their homes—where’s the liberty in that? They’re not Americans; they’re tax-happy socialists in disguise!

Conclusion

High property taxes in South Dakota, totaling $954 million in 2021-22, create a moral crisis by forcing families to choose between paying taxes and affording essentials, while preventing economic growth by deterring business investment and reducing consumer spending. This burden violates the liberty to own property free from government overreach, undermining family stability and South Dakota’s economic future. It’s time to end this moral failing with a liberty-first solution—my Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) plan will eliminate property taxes, save homes, and spur growth. Join me at the Liberty Forum, April 19th, 2:00 PM, First Assembly of God, Rapid City, to fight for a freer, fairer South Dakota! Share if you’re with me! #OdomForLiberty #SouthDakotaStrong #TaxReformSD #FreedomFirst