property taxes

Prop. 13 Will Blunt the Property Tax Windfall as Boomers Transfer Property to Millennials

The benefits of Prop 13's limit on property taxes will pass from generation to generation in California, at the expense of state and local coffers.

June 25, 2017 - California Legislative Analyst's Office

Milwaukee Looking for Ways to Finally Force Landlords to Pay Property Taxes

Landlords in Milwaukee have several methods for avoiding paying fines and property taxes—it's all a part of gaming the system. After the local paper investigated the "landlord games," the city is taking action.

May 12, 2017 - Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel

Real Estate Industry Executives Brace for Republican Tax Reforms

A proposal by House Republicans to overhaul U.S. tax law is gaining traction, aided by the certainty of the Trump Administration. Included among the proposed reforms are changes that could bring an end to a key benefit of home ownership.

December 28, 2016 - The Wall Street Journal

Second Home

Bill Would End Tax Breaks for Second Homes in California

AB 71, originating from the California Assembly, would raise funding for low-income housing construction by ending an existing tax break for second homes.

December 21, 2016 - Los Angeles Times

D.C. Raises Taxes on Vacant and Blighted Properties

It got more expensive to neglect properties in Washington, D.C. this week.

November 6, 2016 - Washington City Paper

Golden Gate

Everything You Wanted to Know but Were Afraid to Ask About Prop. 13

A new report from the California Legislative Analyst's Office demystifies the highly consequential and controversial property tax limit enacted by Proposition 13.

September 25, 2016 - California Legislative Analyst's Office

17th Street, Denver, Colorado

Denver Approves First-Ever Affordable Housing Fund

The Denver City Council approved a hard-fought, $150 million affordable housing fund this week.

September 21, 2016 - The Denver Post

Golden Gate

Bay Area Election Roundup: Wetlands, Housing, Ballot-Box Planning, Sales Tax

A regional measure to tax all property owners in the 9-county Bay Area to adapt to sea level rise passes; S.F. voters support raising the affordable housing bar; Richmond voters reject ballot-box planning; San José approves sales tax increase.

June 9, 2016 - Planetizen

Bay Area Wetlands

Parcel Tax Measure Would Fund Climate Adaptation in Bay Area by Restoring Wetlands

Next month, along with picking presidential, U.S. Senate and legislative candidates, and local ballot measures in a primary election, voters in the Bay Area will also determine the outcome of the first regionwide measure in Bay Area history.

May 11, 2016 - KQED Science

McMansions

The Land Value Tax Explained

A Vox article and podcast delve into the wonky but thought-provoking reasoning behind the land value tax.

May 9, 2016 - Vox

Ohio Supreme Court Comes to the Rescue of Municipal Golf in Cincinnati

The Ohio Supreme Court had to intervene in the complicated issue of municipal golf courses managed by private operators. In the end, Cincinnati's municipal golf courses will keep their property tax exemptions.

February 23, 2016 - Cincinnati Enquirer

empty parking lot of Eastvale, California's best buy and kohl's, mountains in background

For Cities, Big-Box Stores Are Becoming Even More of a Terrible Deal

Big-box retailers' new tactic to slash their taxes is the latest example of why cities are better off saying no to the boxes and cultivating Main Streets instead.

June 20, 2015 - Institute for Local Self-Reliance

Prop. 13 Under the Microscope Again in California

Long considered a roadblock to raising the revenues necessary to run California, Prop. 13 is one of the country's most notorious political third rails. Two state senators, however, would roll back Prop 13 protections for commercial properties.

June 12, 2015 - Los Angeles Times

One57

Why New York Barely Taxes Its Billionaires

If taxed at an average rate, the buyer of One57's $100.5 million penthouse should have paid $1.3 million in property taxes. Instead, the property was assessed at $17,000. Here's why.

June 6, 2015 - CityLab

California Water Districts Might Skirt Prop 13 to Fund $25 Billion Canal Plan

Californians who take low property taxes and high quality drinking water for granted might have reason to rethink both those realities if the state's water districts figure out a way to raise property taxes—the same might be true if they don't.

July 25, 2014 - San Jose Mercury News

Tolls vs. Taxes: Wisconsinites Choose Their Preference

All taxes are not equally disliked—some are more tolerated than others. Jack Craver of The Cap Times examines an academic poll and speaks with policy makers and one advocate about the least objectionable options to pay for roads in Wisconsin.

June 10, 2014 - The Cap Times

A Texas-Sized Commercial Property Tax Gambit

A pair of articles from the Dallas Morning News examine the inequities of property tax rates in Texas. Under the current system, commercial property owners in Dallas County "shaved more than $4.8 billion off preliminary tax appraisals."

May 6, 2014 - Dallas Morning News

Commuter Taxes: An Untapped Revenue Source?

For all those cities that double population during the work day, here's a revenue thought to consider. But why restrict it to in-bound commuters? What about residents who commute-out of the city? Is the commuter tax a legitimate revenue source?

March 26, 2014 - Governing

New Law Could Grow Urban Agriculture Across California

Community gardens and small-scale farms could soon start sprouting in California's cities thanks to a new law that allows municipalities to lower property taxes on small plots of land in exchange for at least five years of agricultural use.

October 6, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

Obstacles to a "Metropolitan Revolution"

In theory, cities might be able to revitalize their economies and infrastructure. But in reality, state governments can create all kinds of obstacles to city policy.

August 23, 2013 - Michael Lewyn

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