The New York Times takes a deep dive into the "dark store theory" costing local municipalities millions, and potentially more, in property tax revenues all over the country.

Patricia Cohen reports for The New York Times:
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 hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenue.
According to Cohen, the stores appraise their properties based on "sale prices on the open market of vacant or formerly vacant shells in other places."
Retail stores make the case that these tax arrangements are necessary to make ends meet in a changing market. Municipalities say corporations aren't paying their fair share. "Either way, homeowners and small businesses will have to pay more or live with smaller budgets for police, schools, garbage pickup and road repair," writes Cohen.
This is the dark store theory first detailed in urbanism media by Laura Bliss in November 2018 and reported locally in March 2017 by Glenn Hegar for the Austin Statesman.
Evidence of dark store theory's domino effect on local municipalities is piling up. According to an October 2018 report by the Michigan Association of Counties, dark store theory reduced local revenues in the state by $100 million between 2013 and 2017. "In Texas, the comptroller said such appeals could end up costing local governments $2.6 billion a year," according to Cohen.
The article also includes specific examples, like the case of a Lowe's in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, where "the company spent more than $16 million to buy the land and construct its 140,000-square-foot building less than a dozen years ago," according to Cohen. "The city assessed the spot in a bustling retail hub right off Highway 41 at $13.6 million. The company’s appraisal was $7.1 million, based on sales of empty and once empty buildings in other neighborhoods."
According to Cohen, legislation to curb the practice has been considered in Alabama, Texas, and Indiana.
For more coverage on dark store theory, see an article by Joyce Jauer, Olga Garza and Bruce Wright for the Texas Comptroller in February 2017, Abby Jackson for Business Insider in August 2017, Sehvilla Mann for NPR in November 2017, and Rebecca Badgett for the University of North Carolina School of Government in March 2018. An opinion piece from August 2017 by Judy S. Engel and Lynn S. Linné argues in favor of the practice.
FULL STORY: As Big Retailers Seek to Cut Their Tax Bills, Towns Bear the Brunt

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure
If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

Mapping Groundwater Risks from Orphan Wells Across U.S. Aquifers
A new USGS study reveals that more than half of the nation’s documented orphan wells lie within aquifers supplying the vast majority of U.S. groundwater, posing widespread risks of contamination from aging, unplugged infrastructure.

Reflections on Representation and Legacy in Parks and Public Service
In a personal reflection for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, planner Clement Lau explores how cultural identity, public service, and a commitment to equity have shaped his career in parks, community planning, and sustainability.

Poor Conditions in Mobile Home Parks Put Residents at Risk
Failing infrastructure, poor water and air quality, and predatory owners endanger the health of manufactured home residents, many of whom are elderly and low-income.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
Tyler Technologies
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions