LANSING (WKZO-AM) — Rep. David Maturen of Portage says he’s forming a group that will examine a loophole used by big box stores in Michigan, like Walmart and Home Depot, that allows them to value their properties as if they’ve been closed and empty for years.
The Republican says the facilities are called “dark stores”
“We’re trying to find a method of valuing the big box retail stores that is a fair and equitable process,” Maturen said.
He plans to include assessors, municipal officials and representatives from the retailers in his work group.
“I’ve got some experience in the past as an assessor, working with the state’s treasury department,” Maturen said. “I kind of feel an obligation to get into the mix on this.”
Indiana determined, if they allowed the same argument to prevail, that state would lose $120 million in annual tax revenue.
– John McNeill
