How We Use Cookies and Similar Technologies
This page explains the cookies we use on propertytaxusa.org/, what each one does, the controls you have, and how we honor opt-out signals including the Global Privacy Control under CCPA/CPRA, the Texas TDPSA, and other state privacy laws.
What’s on this page
1. What Cookies Are
A cookie is a small text file placed on your device when you visit a website. Cookies let a site remember your settings, whether you’ve dismissed a banner, or your session as you click around. Beyond classic cookies, websites use related technologies that do similar work: local storage, session storage, pixel tags / web beacons, and SDKs. On this page, “cookies” means all of these unless we say otherwise.
2. Why We Use Cookies
- To make the site work. Pages need to load, sessions need to stay consistent, and the cookie banner needs to remember your answer.
- To remember your preferences. Once you’ve set a cookie choice, we remember it.
- To measure how the site is used. Anonymous analytics tells us which content is useful and where readers drop off.
- To support advertising. Display advertising funds the site. Advertising cookies help limit ad frequency and measure performance.
3. The Four Categories
| Category | What it does | Opt-out available? |
|---|---|---|
| Strictly necessary | Lets the site load, serves the right page, protects against abuse, remembers your cookie choice | No (required for the service you have requested) |
| Functional | Remembers preferences (text size, dismissed notices) | Yes — manage in cookie settings |
| Analytics / performance | Counts visits, measures speed, identifies broken links | Yes — manage in cookie settings or browser |
| Advertising / targeting | Limits ad frequency, measures ad performance, supports relevant ads | Yes — manage in cookie settings, send GPC, or use industry opt-outs |
4. First-Party Cookies
| Name | Purpose | Type | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| ptu_consent | Stores your cookie consent choice | Strictly necessary | 12 months |
| ptu_pref | Remembers display preferences and dismissed banners | Functional | 6 months |
| ptu_session | Maintains your session across pages | Strictly necessary | Session (deleted when you close the browser) |
| ptu_csrf | Security token used to protect against cross-site request forgery on contact forms | Strictly necessary | Session |
5. Third-Party Cookies
| Vendor | Purpose | Category | Privacy policy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Analytics 4 | Aggregate, anonymized site analytics | Analytics | policies.google.com/privacy · Opt-out add-on |
| Google AdSense | Display advertising, frequency capping, ad measurement | Advertising | policies.google.com/technologies/ads |
| Cloudflare | Security, bot mitigation, content delivery | Strictly necessary | cloudflare.com/privacypolicy |
We don’t use cookies that fingerprint your device, sell your data to data brokers, or build cross-site behavioral profiles for resale beyond standard advertising frequency-capping and measurement.
6. Session vs Persistent Cookies
- Session cookies are temporary. They are deleted automatically when you close your browser.
- Persistent cookies stay on your device for a set period — anywhere from a day to a year or more. Cookies that remember your consent choice are persistent.
7. Consent and Opt-Out
- California (CCPA/CPRA) — opt out of “sale” and “sharing” for cross-context behavioral advertising. Use the cookie banner, the “Cookie settings” link in the footer, or send the Global Privacy Control signal.
- Texas (TDPSA) — opt out of targeted advertising. Use the cookie banner or send the GPC signal.
- Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, Oregon, Montana, and other states with comprehensive privacy laws — similar rights to opt out of targeted advertising and (where defined) sale of personal data.
- EU and UK visitors — under GDPR/UK GDPR and ePrivacy/PECR rules, we ask for opt-in consent before placing any non-essential cookie. Our banner appears on first visit before any non-essential cookie is set.
8. Global Privacy Control
The site honors the Global Privacy Control (GPC) browser signal. If your browser is configured to send GPC, we treat that as a valid opt-out under CCPA/CPRA, the Colorado Privacy Act, and other state laws that recognize universal opt-out mechanisms. You don’t need to confirm anything; the signal is enough.
To learn more about GPC and how to enable it, visit globalprivacycontrol.org.
9. Changing Your Cookie Choices
You can re-open the cookie preference panel at any time by clicking “Cookie settings” in the site footer. Changes apply immediately. You can also clear cookies entirely using your browser’s privacy settings (see Section 10).
10. Browser-Level Controls
- Google Chrome: Manage cookies in Chrome
- Mozilla Firefox: Cookies in Firefox
- Apple Safari (Mac): Manage cookies in Safari
- Microsoft Edge: Cookies in Edge
- Brave Browser: Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data
- Opera: Settings → Advanced → Privacy and security → Cookies
The site will still load, but some functions may break. Blocking strictly necessary cookies is not recommended.
11. Mobile Device Controls
- iPhone / iPad (iOS): Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking → toggle off “Allow Apps to Request to Track.” Also: Settings → Privacy & Security → Apple Advertising → toggle off “Personalized Ads.”
- Android: Settings → Google → Ads → toggle on “Opt out of Ads Personalization” (or “Delete advertising ID” in newer Android versions).
- Browser apps on mobile have their own cookie controls inside the app’s Settings menu.
12. Industry Opt-Outs
- Network Advertising Initiative (NAI): optout.networkadvertising.org
- Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA): optout.aboutads.info
- DAA AppChoices (mobile apps): youradchoices.com/appchoices
- Google Ad Settings: adssettings.google.com
13. Changes to This Policy
If we add a new vendor, change cookie durations, or update our consent tools, we revise this page and update the “Last reviewed” date at the top. Substantive changes — for example, adding a new advertising vendor — will trigger a refreshed cookie banner so you can review and re-confirm your choices.
14. Questions About Cookies
- Email: info@propertytaxusa.org
- Subject line: “Cookies”
Adjust Your Cookie Settings Anytime
Use the “Cookie settings” link in the site footer, or send the Global Privacy Control signal from your browser for site-wide opt-out.
📧 info@propertytaxusa.org