Property-valuation notices now arriving in mailboxes statewide are delivering expensive news: 64 local governments are proposing property tax hikes this year. Officials say they are needed for a range of things, from keeping up with inflation to allowing school districts to compete in what has become âsalary warsâ to attract and retain teachers. A few local leaders are again using creative arguments to contend that they are not really raising taxes â even though definitions in state law say the...