LANSING, Mich. — Republican candidate for governor Karla Wagner says eliminating property taxes is the centerpiece of her campaign, arguing the current system is forcing Michigan residents out of their homes while failing to improve public services.
In an interview with independent journalist Dave Bondy, Wagner said her long-running “Axe My Tax” initiative, which began during the COVID-19 pandemic, grew out of her experience as a small business owner who was required to pay property taxes while her business was ordered closed.
“I was told my business was not essential, but my property taxes were essential,” Wagner said. “I still had to pay property taxes at my business, but my business wasn’t even open to make money.”
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Wagner said her proposal would eliminate all property taxes statewide through a constitutional amendment, shifting funding for local governments and essential services to existing revenue sources such as sales tax revenue sharing, portions of the state income tax, and targeted consumption-based fees.
She rejected arguments that eliminating property taxes would jeopardize funding for police and fire services, saying her proposal protects emergency services funding while redirecting how the state allocates existing revenue.
“The state gets a very small portion of property taxes,” Wagner said. “Most people don’t understand that. We already have sales tax revenue sharing, and we can protect emergency services without taking people’s homes.”
Wagner criticized lawmakers for what she described as wasteful spending and selective tax relief that she said leaves homeowners paying higher bills.
“When you pick winners and losers, the people left holding the bag pay more,” she said. “That’s how people lose their homes and businesses.”
A real estate agent, licensed builder, and former volunteer sheriff’s deputy, Wagner said her background outside politics gives her a different perspective than career politicians. She said she has worked in real estate development, financial planning, retail, and restaurant ownership, experiences she believes qualify her to manage the state’s budget.
“The budget drives the state,” Wagner said. “If we fix the budget, we can fix schools, roads, and services. Right now, they spend every dollar they get whether it’s needed or not.”
Wagner also criticized Michigan’s use of business subsidies, arguing that corporate tax incentives are funded by higher taxes on homeowners and small businesses.
“We’re taxing people out of their homes to pay corporations billions of dollars to come here,” she said. “Then we waive their property taxes and the homeowners make up the difference.”
She said eliminating property taxes would make Michigan more attractive to businesses and residents alike, increasing homeownership and strengthening local communities.
“You want homeowners, not just renters,” Wagner said. “People who own homes are invested in their communities. They stay. They build families. They build neighborhoods.”
Wagner acknowledged she has been excluded from some polls and media coverage but said she is focused on grassroots campaigning through town halls and direct voter outreach.
“If they want to leave me out of the polls, I’ll make my own noise,” she said. “I’m going where people invite me.”
Asked whether she would support another Republican nominee if she does not win the primary, Wagner said her support would depend on the candidate’s record.
“I’m looking at voting records, donors, and what they’ve actually done,” she said. “If they don’t represent me, I can’t support them.”
Wagner said her campaign priorities extend beyond tax policy and include budget reform, licensing and regulatory reductions, education funding oversight, and addressing human trafficking within Michigan’s foster care system.
“I love Michigan,” Wagner said. “My family is here. My kids are here. My grandkids are here. I’m not doing this to be a career politician. I’m doing it because people are losing their homes, farms, and businesses, and that has to stop.”
