Bill seeks to bar large retailers from using the ‘dark store loophole’ in property tax battles

Portland, Maine: The bill, expected to appear before the Legislature’s Taxation Committee, would require that retail sales facilities more than 20,000 square feet be valued based on current use, or, if vacant, according to their highest and best use...

Walmart sues to lower its Oshkosh property tax bill

Renewing its legal battle with the city of Oshkosh, Walmart filed suit July 3 to have $6.2 million knocked off the assessment on its South Washburn St store.

The company sits atop the Fortune 500 and had $500 billion in sales last year....

Local officials seethe as Republicans block move on 'dark stores' loophole

Village of Somers President George Stoner said it’s just one excuse after another.

“They say it would be bad for business,” Stoner said. “It’s not bad for business. Businesses need to pay their fair share.”

Will this be the year to close “Dark store” loophole? How it impacts you

MADISON (WKOW) — As Governor Evers tours the state to rally support for the budget he introduced last week, closing the dark store loophole is poised to become a big issue at the state capitol.

Evers to close controversial ‘Dark Store’ loophole

This method of assessment has proved controversial, as organizations like the League of Wisconsin Municipalities see the method as a gap in the tax law that allows big corporations to pay less in taxes, forcing Wisconsin residents to pay more.

Sheboygan voters will have their say on 'dark store' tax loopholes in April election

SHEBOYGAN - The common council voted unanimously Monday to add an advisory referendum that will appear on the April ballot, asking Sheboygan residents if the Wisconsin legislature should consider passing legislation to close....

As Big Retailers Seek to Cut Their Tax Bills, Towns Bear the Brunt

WAUWATOSA, Wis. — With astonishing range and rapidity, big-box retailers and corporate giants are using an aggressive legal tactic to shrink their property tax bills, a strategy that is costing local governments and school districts around the country....

2019 Outlook: Lowes, Wal-Mart Property Tax Loophole Under Scrutiny in Wisconsin

Krause said wider application... would have a devastating impact on her community,,, an across-the-board application of dark store...would result in a 17% tax shift to the residential sector in Wauwatosa, costing the ave homeowner $1,100 more.

Closing the Dark Store Loophole? Referendum results deliver resounding ‘yes’...

On average, 78.65% voters answered “yes” to ballot questions asking if the loophole should be closed. The rejection vote was far bigger in individual places. In Dane County, 91.79% of voters called for ending the loophole, as did... 87.88% in Glendale.

How the “dark stores” loophole helps big-box retailers evade millions in property taxes

“(S)uggesting is that we use these dark stores as comparables to their ongoing stores, even though the bundle of rights is different,” Winter says. But “to use that as a comparable, without an adjustment, for the value of an ongoing operation, doesn’t .."

Continued Reaction To So-Called Dark Store Loopholes

A guest (Jerry Deschane) from the League of Wisconsin Municipalities joined us on Nov. 13 to discuss the results to dark store referenda questions and talk about what he hopes is next on this issue.

Tax 'loophole' critics win big on Election Day, but prospects for real change unclear

Voters in 23 Wisconsin municipalities overwhelmingly backed nonbinding referendums on Tuesday to close the so-called “dark store loophole,” which its detractors say unfairly shifts the property tax burden from large retailers to homeowners.

Local and state leaders: Voters make 'dark store' directive clear

“It is an important issue to the village...,” Steinbrink said. “It affects small businesses & residential taxpayers. It is actually an easy fix. Without action, it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep taxes low and services good.”

Rock, Walworth counties OK dark store advisory referendums

Voters in Rock and Walworth counties overwhelmingly passed advisory referendums calling for an end to the dark store legal theory.

The referendums passed with more than 70 percent support in both counties.

Wisconsin election: Voters favor closing 'dark stores' property tax loophole

"(B)ut it certainly, I think, speaks volumes. ... That's pretty significant when you've got 50,000 voters telling their elected officials that we want this loophole closed," said Outagamie County Board Chairman Jeff Nooyen...

City approves nearly $130,000 combined payout to settle Lowe's 'dark store' lawsuit

"More than $129,000 in local taxpayer money will go to Lowe's after city leaders settled a lawsuit with the national home improvement chain."

Officials urge support of Dark Store referendums

"Antaramian said if the loophole is not closed it will amount to a $350 increase on an average city home.

This comes as residential taxpayers’ share of the state’s overall property tax pie has increased to 67 percent..."

VOTERS TO WEIGH IN ON 'DARK STORE LOOPHOLE'

The report showed of the 11 municipalities studied, value losses could range from 4 to 14% - resulting in a $187 million shift to other taxpayers. In Beloit, multiple businesses have disputed their property tax assessments, including the Staples...."

“Everyday the state Legislature does not act to close these loopholes, taxes are increasing for all

“Everyday the state Legislature does not act to close these loopholes, taxes are increasing for all homeowners, small businesses and other property owners in Kenosha and the rest of the state,” Kenosha Ald. Dan Prozanski

Kenosha county officials tackle ‘dark store loophole’ issue, put referendum on November ballot

Stoner is the Village of Somers president and said the issue of the "dark store loophole" needs to be dealt with quickly. "Just for the year 2017 for Sam's Club, we have to give back $13,795 and to Walmart, we have to give back $25,305 and that's just...

EDITORIAL: It’s time to pay attention to the dark store loophole

Manawa is a quaint city in Waupaca County with roughly 1,300 people who found out the hard way the damage the dark store loophole can do in communities.

Last year, TreeHouse Foods successfully argued in mitigation that the value of a food processing...

VIDEO: Local officials push to close dark store loopholes

The group implored candidates for governor to be a leader on closing the tax law loophole.

Five things to know about the 'dark store' referendum on midterm ballots

"The one thing that gets lost in talking about the details is the reason local governments are concerned," said Curt Witynski, deputy director of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities. "They're concerned about the fairness of the property-tax system."

‘It’s not right:’ Elected officials urge candidates for governor to close tax loopholes

"Our residents should not be having to incur this cost for an unfair tax shift," said Kathy Ehley, mayor of Wauwatosa. The leaders drafted a letter seeking relief from the so-called "dark store"/ "Walgreens loopholes"....

Local Leaders Demand Big Store Tax Reform

The effect of these loopholes is that property tax revenues from these large companies and corporations go down, and the tax burden paying for essential services like police and fire is shifted to homeowners and small business owners.

Burlington to consider joining dark store tax battle

Whenever big box retailers such as Walmart use the dark store loophole to avoid paying higher taxes, residents and small businesses pay the price, which has caused most state municipalities to urge lawmakers to stop the practice.

Panel wants property assessment loopholes closed

Homeowners in Wisconsin already pay 70% of property taxes statewide. And Douglas County want to make sure that share doesn't grow. But a loophole in Wisconsin law is helping big box and chain stores use tax avoidance strategies that shift the burden....

Shifting the Tax Burden

Shifting the tax burden: If plaintiffs win lawsuits over property tax assessments, taxpayers could see $561K on their tab
Taxpayers could be on the hook for $561,183 if plaintiffs in 11 civil lawsuits challenging property tax assessments filed . . . .

City, Walmart settle value dispute--for now

A dispute between Walmart and Monona officials over the value of the business’ property has been settled, with a few elected officials saying it’s the best the city could hope for in the short term.

Dark Store Reform Important to All of Us

The city of Oshkosh is taking a stand to address a disturbing trend in property valuation. This trend is shifting the bur-den of property taxes from big-box retail stores to homes and small businesses. The term you may be familiar with is
“dark store.”

Lasse: Dark store Theory is a con

I am a developer in the city of Janesville and have worked on numerous projects over the last 25 years including the Kmart/Festival redevelopment, Oasis/Menards redevelopment, Castle Metals, Upper Lakes Foods, IPM Foods and ANGI Energy Systems . . . .

West Allis voters loudly demand Legislators close the so-called dark store loophole

Local voters in Tuesday's primary election stood solidly behind West Allis officials in wanting the state legislature to close the so-called dark store loophole that has resulted in big-box stores getting drastic reductions in their property tax . . . .

10 new lawsuits protest Eau Claire tax bills

Ten additional civil lawsuits — seeking more than $458,000 in property tax refunds — have been filed against the city of Eau Claire. Six of those have been filed by KT Real Estate Holdings . . . concerning six Kwik Trip locations; two by Menard Inc. . .

Marshfield may join Dark Store fight

The city of Marshfield may join the Dark Store tax loophole campaign, as Wisconsin municipalities band together against some “big box” retailers.

The loophole involves active retail stores being taxed as if they were . . . .

Janesville Residents Could See Higher Tax Bill due to Dark Store Law Suites

The property tax bill of an average Janesville home could increase by more than $26 if pending property assessment appeals against the city are successful. Janesville is involved in 11 pending appeals from local businesses. They are seeking a . . . .

Dark Store Loophole: Walmart and Menards Take Action Against City to Lower Assessed Value

City Communicates OnFocus – The Finance, Budget and Personnel Committee approved making a $2,500 donation to the League of Wisconsin Municipalities to help in their fight against the Dark Store Loophole currently used in Wisconsin.
“Wal-Mart and . . . .

Roundy's sues Shorewood over 'excessive' Metro Market assessment

Roundy's has filed a lawsuit against the village, claiming the assessed value of the Metro Market is "excessive." The village has assessed the two-story grocery store at $25.3 million, but the complaint filed by Roundy's claims the grocery store . . . .

City Manager Mark Freitag, Janesville, Dark Store Op-Ed

In an editorial published August 5, 2018, the Janesville Gazette criticized the City for advocating for the state to put an end to the “dark store” property assessment loophole which shifts the property tax burden from large corporations . . . .

City may aid dark store lobbying efforts

Monona city officials appear to have temporarily settled a pair of lawsuits by Walmart challenging its property assessment, but that doesn’t mean the city is giving up on the broader issue. Alders on Monday will consider a resolution to donate. . . .

Sturgeon Bay Wal-Mart gets reassessed in dark store case

The city of Sturgeon Bay and Wal-Mart will head to mediation this fall to discuss the store’s current property assessment. Last September, the Wal-Mart Real Estate Business Trust filed a suit against the city in Door County Circuit Court . . .

Pleasant Prairie approves agreement for hotel development

PLEASANT PRAIRIE — The Village Board here has unanimously approved a developer’s agreement for a future corporate campus with a hotel and other services in the LakeView Corporate Park.

With bills blocked, get familiar with 'dark store' referendum

Gov. Scott Walker is ready to sign bipartisan legislation to close the “dark stores” loophole that allows big retailers to curtail their tax assessments.
He made that clear during his visit to Kenosha for the Kenosha Civic Veterans Parade.

League Executive Director Jerry Deschane's Statement on MI Supreme Court Striking Down Dark Store

Growing Concern Over Dark Store Loophole

The “dark store” controversy now ranks with the failure to pay for long-term highway construction as the most difficult issues facing the governor and legislators seeking reelection in November.

Democratic legislators committed to closing ‘dark store loophole’

State Rep. Jimmy Anderson and other Democratic legislators are assuring Dane County Board members and other local officials of their commitment to legislation that would close the “dark store loophole” used by big box retailers to lower their tax. . .

Outagamie county sets referendum on dark store tax loopholes

APPLETON - Voters in Outagamie County will get an opportunity to add their voice to the debate over Wisconsin's so-called dark store tax loopholes.

The County Board voted unanimously Tuesday to hold an advisory referendum on the issue . . .