Although I was a renter when it was passed, and opposed it back in the mid-70's, here in California we have Proposition 13 to thank for relatively low home property taxes. Passed around 1977, it froze assessed values for the purpose of taxation, and limited the increase in tax-assessed value to no more than 2% per year. So now my home is probably worth at least twice what it is being taxed for.
Since local governments used to depend mainly on property taxes for their funding, they have resorted to various other ways to generate revenue. I won't try to enumerate them here, but increased fees play a large part (a "fee" is a loophole, not considered a tax). Other assessments are all subject to vote, and they can add up as well, but nowhere near as bad as the unrestrained AV would. Sales taxes are also relatively high - 8.75% in this area, and California income tax rates are among the highest in the nation.
Don't really have a beef with any of this; I do have sympathy for those in other states with tax rates that exceed mortgage payments.
