Capping and clawbacks are related property tax mechanisms: capping limits tax increases while clawbacks address the flip side by limiting decreases when assessed values fall. Together, these policies smooth out the impact of assessment volatility on individual properties. Without clawbacks, properties whose values decline would see immediate tax reductions while capped properties continue paying more than their share. The resulting imbalances can persist for years, creating disparities between similarly-valued properties. Debates about capping and clawbacks involve fundamental questions about tax fairness: should taxes reflect current market values or provide stability against market fluctuations?