Homeowners, especially retirees, are pushing to cut or kill property taxes, and it's splitting opinion over who really benefits.

• Boomers are leading a tax revolt, arguing they shouldn't pay property taxes after paying off their homes, even as home values and insurance costs keep climbing.
• Cutting property taxes would blow a huge hole in state budgets, forcing higher income or sales taxes instead, which experts say would hit lower earners harder since those taxes don't scale with wealth.
• Republican governors in Florida, Texas, Georgia, and others are slashing property taxes to win over older, reliable voters, even though critics warn it could defund schools, police, and fire departments.
• Critics argue cutting these taxes would also make housing even less affordable, which goes against boomers' interest in rising home values but suits politicians chasing votes.
• Despite all the noise, polling shows taxes rank low on voters' priority lists this election, well behind healthcare, Social Security, and affordability concerns.

Outlook: Expect more states to push property tax cuts ahead of elections, with ongoing debate over whether replacement taxes shift the burden onto lower earners.