Final answer:
Churches, government land, and schools are generally considered tax-exempt properties which contribute to challenges in local government funding since they do not pay property taxes despite benefiting from public services.
Step-by-step explanation:
Churches, government land, and schools are classified as tax-exempt property. These properties are often owned by nonprofit organizations, religious institutions, or the government itself and do not contribute property taxes to local governments.
This can pose a challenge for municipalities, especially in places like Boston or college towns where a significant portion of land is tax-exempt, impacting the revenue that can be collected.
Local governments usually impose property taxes on commercial and personal property to fund public services, but tax-exempt properties do not contribute to this tax base despite benefiting from the services. This issue intersects with discussions on public good and the role of private property in society.