The math for how they provide services doesn't work. Even assuming the average property tax bill is 50% higher than the $2300ish bill for this house, Alton has a population of 25,600, living in 12,518 households. That would be total property tax of $43.2m. Their school district alone has a $95M budget, according to the district's web site. Where does the other $50m come from? And that's ignoring things like police and fire departments, roads, etc. that also need to be paid for somehow.