Can’t comment on the weirdness, but after 10 years I can say it has gotten a hell of a lot more expensive!

Nothing and no one obligates counties or cities to charge you the maximum amount in taxes that they can legally get away with charging. Why any private citizen reflexively defends the government’s right to screw people over is beyond me. OP you are right, it’s morally bankrupt. In my opinion they should be obligated to buy your house at the value they quote it at if you would choose that over paying bloated tax increases.