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Some lawmakers are stepping up efforts to change state tax law dealing with the so-called “Dark Store” controversy, where big box stores can vastly reduced property taxes when they abandon their site.
Under the proposal, even if the store is left empty, the owners of the property will have to continue to pay regular taxes.
City and county leaders in Escanaba, Delta and Marquette Counties have opposed the reappointment of Tribunal judge Marcus Abood because of earlier decisions he wrote on the Dark Store theory. Several communities have complained of lost revenue.
State Representative John Kivela, D-Marqutte, says when lawmakers are finally able to change the law the tax tribunal would no longer be able to reduce property taxes of big box stores based on empty or dark stores.
Instead, they would have to use the cost of the building, income of the business as well as property sales comparisons.
Abood in the past wrote a decision in favor of Menards in a Dark Store case.
