Do property taxes pay for schools?

The money raised through property taxes funds schools and other public services, such as police departments and sanitation, states the U.S. Department of the Treasury. In most cases, the more money a local government raises through property taxes, the more money a school receives, states SFGate.

Each state taxes different types of property, but most property taxes come from real property, which is all property permanently attached to land. Examples of real property include houses, condominiums and office buildings, states the U.S. Department of the Treasury. States also tax personal property, which includes cars, boats, planes and jewelry. Most states tax a certain percentage of a property's value, states Tax Policy Center.