Citizens for Property Rights

Introduction from the Founder and President of Citizen’s for Property Rights.

Thank you for your interest in Citizen’s for Property Rights (CPR). We are a non-partisan, 501c4 non-profit political organization established in April of 2026 to seek relief from property taxes. We begin this effort with a simple question: Do we truly own our homes? The answer is complicated, and the truth may surprise you.

 

We the People are taxed and regulated in just about every way possible. Try this simple exercise; think of what you can do that isn’t somehow taxed, stamped, licensed, permitted, inspected or otherwise regulated. You may think of a few examples, but you had to really think about it for a minute, didn’t you? Now think about being forced to give government a portion of a property’s equity every year, for the entire time you hold it, so that you are allowed to remain on it. If the property increases in value, you’re taxed on that increase which is a tax on unrealized gains.

 

We at CPR believe our current property tax system is antithetical to true freedom. How can we ever be free and secure in our homes if government officials can enter and inspect a property unannounced, decide the value, bill you for a percentage of that value and foreclose and sell it at auction if you can’t pay? And you must apply for whatever is left over from the sale within six months or lose it all to the Borough government! That’s the reality hanging over our heads every year regardless of our ability to pay. The Kenai Borough has 3 full time “Delinquent Account Specialists” on staff and, according to their own Long-Term Plan, hope to hire more because “…the number of delinquent accounts has grown…”.

 

Sometimes true freedom seems like an illusion. You’ve worked hard, served, volunteered, raised your family, paid your bills and taxes. You just want to be left alone to enjoy the fruits of your labor. We should enjoy the freedom and security of Constitutionally limited government including freedom FROM excessive government. Our current property tax system can’t pass the logic test. It’s not equitable, it’s not fair, and it’s coercive. And if you rent or lease? The property tax costs are typically passed along to you.

 

The Kenai Peninsula is a wonderful place to live and our Borough government is not our enemy. This effort isn’t about marching with pitchforks and firebrands. It is an appeal for redress through a public process designed to find alternative ways to fund critical public services, all without holding the property we occupy as hostage.

Real property assessments are required by State Statute to arrive at the Base Student Allocation but that does not mean property taxes are required. Real property is treated by government as a financial asset from which a portion of the estimated value is to be taken every year; not as true self-determined ownership (paid for with after-tax income, free and clear of encumbrance), not as our castle, not as our place of refuge. The property tax system carries the very real possibility of ever increasing assessments/taxes even if our personal income is below our ability to pay.

 

Our US Constitution explicitly states that We the People are to be secure in our homes and effects and it is the basic responsibility of the government to assure and protect that precept. If we are forced every year by the government to pay whatever is demanded of us regardless of our ability to pay or face foreclosure, do we ever really “own our home” and are we ever truly secure?  The stock answer from government officials is generally “We need five years of long-range fiscal planning ability through stable tax base funding to provide critical services. We can work with those who can’t pay. We have a payment plan!”.

 

We believe that financially stable families are the heart and soul of our community and deserve better than a “Let them eat cake” attitude from politicians and unelected bureaucrats.

Property taxes could be regarded as a protection arrangement. We pay the government whatever they demand, and in exchange we pretty much get left alone to enjoy some level of autonomy over property we occupy. However, if you fail to pay the government, you’ll need protection from the very entity you’ve paid to protect you. You don’t want that.

 

CPR is initiating this effort to investigate all viable alternatives to property taxes, present these alternatives to the citizens of the Kenai Peninsula and our elected representatives and decide how we want to pay for government services. We the People are the governed, but by consent.

The Borough website says “Citizen-led, our collective community effort is building a place where people are proud to live, work, and play. KPB, we work for you.” Let’s see if that’s true.

Please consider joining our group (there’s a link below) to help spread the word, grow support and enable We the People to find relief from property taxation. There is strength in numbers. Share your personal experiences! Bring your ideas and solutions! Take charge of your future. There’s more to come. We’re just getting started. Thank you! Larry L Lewis, Kasilof Alaska.