Advantages of using property taxes to fund local services?

Question

Advantages of using property taxes to fund local services?

Answer 1

Yes I would rather the local people who have a better idea of the local needs fund it.

Answer 2

Advantage to whom?

A common lament right now is "if my house has dropped in value, why haven't my property taxes?"--which belies the fact that the tax rate is designed to raise a certain amount of revenue.  If fewer people pay the tax or the valuation drops, then the tax rate has to go up.  

Or how about the retiree's lament, "I'm retired and living on social security; my income dropped, but my taxes didn't."   Ditto for anyone out of work....