Dark-store lawsuits could end, but uncertainty lingers

[TexasTowelie]

JANESVILLE -- The curtain might be falling on the dark-store legal theory in Wisconsin, but it’s possible big-box retailers will find another method to reduce their property tax assessments, a Janesville official said.

Dark-store lawsuits returned to headlines earlier this week after Gov. Tony Evers said he planned to outlaw the legal strategy in his first state budget. Often used by large retail corporations, dark-store lawsuits compare fully operational businesses to vacant buildings of similar size in an effort to reduce their valuations.

Janesville and other municipalities have lobbied the state Legislature to prohibit the dark-store strategy, but bipartisan bills to do so died on the Capitol floor. Advisory referendums to ban use of the strategy passed overwhelmingly across the state in November.

Although City Assessor Michelle Laube is “cautiously optimistic” the Legislature will forbid dark-store lawsuits, companies might still find ways to reduce their tax bills, she said.

Read more: https://www.gazettextra.com/news/government/dark-store-lawsuits-could-end-but-uncertainty-lingers/article_37939eed-96fb-5afb-9196-2accc9db095a.html

[TreasonousBastard]

1. She's right-- time after time elected officials and...

poorly paid bureaucrats have been no match for corporate accountants with almost unlimited funds being spent to avoid spending on taxes.