system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Property tax. What is it and why is it a thing? I bought something and I paid for it, so why am I essentially *still* paying for it?
gpt
You're \*still\* paying for it because you're \*still\* using all the things that support it. Presumably you'd like to drive to your property, that needs roads (and traffic lights and signs and cops and...). If you're in a dispute with your neighbor you want a court system to resolve it. You'd probably like the drainage to go somewhere. You'd like the fire department to show up when your property is on fire. Your property is served by a school district (in most cases). Etc. That stuff all requires ongoing expenditure.