Appearing in ABC News on August 3, 2025, Mark Nichols, Tonya Simpson, Maia Rosenfeld , Jared Kofsky, and Tommy Brooksbank interviewed John Rao, senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center, for coverage of proportionate property taxes and how data shows discrepancies in assessments — and therefore tax bills — affect some communities more than others.
ABC’s analysis found that across the country, homeowners in predominantly Black and Brown areas tend to pay higher taxes than those in mostly white neighborhoods for a house worth the same amount on the open market.
John Rao, senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center, says U.S. homeowners in communities of color face a “double whammy.” They often receive “lowballed” appraisals when trying to purchase or refinance their homes, Rao explained, “but when it comes to paying their taxes, once they’ve owned the home … often their assessments are proportionally higher than what they should be.”
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