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The chairman of a House committee on tax policy says new legislation will be introduced sometime in early 2016 to address the “Dark Store” theory big box stores are using to reduce their property taxes.
Stores claim their property should be valued as if it were empty, or dark, because the layout is unique and wouldn’t be worth much if the building was sold.
State Representative Jeff Farrington, R-Utica, expects to hold a hearing on the legislation in January or February.
State Representative Dave Maturen, R-Vicksburg, is fine-tuning the bill.
The real estate appraiser by trade says not everyone will be happy with the final product. And while he wouldn’t reveal specifics he does say it will tackle both the general property tax act and tax tribunal rules.
The issue hits close to home for Maturen, who says a Costco in his district, which includes Kalamazoo County, had its property taxes reduced by 80 percent on a store that is just being built.
