I didn't read the article but I know what this is talking about. They have every right to challenge this. Hey, they're right on it when property values go up. There's no reason they should be paying high taxes when values have gone down. Good for them, more people should challenge them.
The politicians went on a spending spree during the boom and now refuse to cut back. They expect people to keep paying and paying and paying and paying.
BTW - check this out - cop near me getting $185k a year pension plus health care for life at 47 y/o
http://www.lohud.com/article/20111128/NEWS02/111280313/Ex-cop-get-183G-year-after-pension-error-found?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Frontpage