Hello all, Apologies if this is a duplication, but I don't think that I recall seeing any messages on the Michlib-L list. There is at last a bill that will attempt to address the "dark store" tax loophole, and HB 5578 will be taken up this Wednesday by the House Tax Policy Committee. In the forwarded message, you will see the names of legislators serving on that committee. If your representative appears on the list below, please consider sending them a quick email today or tomorrow encouraging them to support this bill. Thanks very much! ******************************** Shawn Andary, ALS System Admin UP Region of Library Cooperation 1615 Presque Isle Ave Marquette, MI 49855 v (906)226-4675 Ext. 4 f (906)228-5627 COSUGI Regional & Special User Group Liaison 2015-16 May 23-25, 2016 (Pre-conference May 22) http://www.cosugi.org/conference ******************************** ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Kathleen Carlson <uprlfcoord@gmail.com> Date: Mon, Apr 25, 2016 at 9:31 AM Subject: Fwd: "Dark Store Bill" To: Please contact the state representative listed below, asking them to support HB 5578. The bill will be taken up on Wednesday, April 27, by the House Tax Policy Committee. Rep. David Maturen introduced legislation to ensure that equitable determinations are made when the entire Michigan Tax Tribunal hears an assessment dispute. House Bill 5578 would require the entire Michigan Tax Tribunal to make its own, independent determination of the highest and best use of the property that is the subject of the appeal and insure that the comparable properties have the same highest and best use. “The Michigan Tax Tribunal, in recent decisions, has taken into account sales of ‘dark stores’ — vacant structures that most often have deed restrictions — when determining the assessed value of fully functional big box retail stores,” said Rep. Maturen, R-Brady Township. “This legislation eliminates the ‘dark store’ loophole, and creates fair policies that will be used for all assessment disputes heard by the entire Tax Tribunal.” Bill would close 'dark store' assessing loophole Equitable, fair determinations on property tax appeal cases before the Michigan Tax Tribunal (MTT) would be ensured under HB 5578. The bill would require the MTT to make its own, independent determination of the highest and best use of the property under appeal, and ensure that comparable properties are used when comparing the same highest and best use. In recent years, the MTT has used the "dark store" assessing theory when determining the assessed value of fully functional big box retail stores. The result is much lower than expected property valuations because, instead of the true cash value, the property is compared to the sales of vacant structures that most often have deed restrictions that severely limit their use. Once limited to primarily "big box" stores, this issue now has a much larger impact to state and local governments, as fast food restaurants, auto parts stores and national chain pharmacies are seeking the same treatment--all at the expense of local governments, their residents and other businesses in the community. For townships and other local governments, this issue is about far more than their budgets--money that could be spent on fire protection, roads or economic development. It is about ensuring that all taxpayers pay their fair share and that all properties are being properly valued. HB 5578 would create a level playing field based on sound appraisal principles by eliminating the dark store "loophole-"-allowing the use of bad comparables and deed restrictions--that has been used far too often. Rather, the bill would provide a fair, transparent process for all property tax assessment disputes heard by the entire tribunal and require the use of all three methods of assessing--cost, sales comparison, and income--for more equitable determinations. HOUSE TAX POLICY COMMITTEE MEMBERS Mailing address for all Representatives is the same: PO Box 30014, Lansing, MI 48909-7514 Kevin Gawronski, Committee Clerk 517-373-2002 Wendell Byrd (3rd District) – Detroit (Wayne County) WendellByrd@house.mi.gov 517-373-0144 Lee Chatfield (107th District) – Sault Ste Marie, St Ignace, Petoskey, Harbor Springs,Cheboygan (Cheboygan, Chippewa, Mackinaw, Emmet Counties) LeeChatfield@house.mi.gov 517-373-2629 Paul Clemente (14th District) – Lincoln Park, Melvindale, Riverview, Wyandotte (Wayne County) PaulClemente@house.mi.gov 517-373-0140 Jeff Farrington, Committee Chair (30th District) – Sterling Heights, Utica (Macomb County) JeffFarrngton@house.mi.gov 517-373-7768 Gary Glenn (98th District) – Auburn, Pinconning, Midland (Bay & Midland Counties) GaryGlenn@house.mi.gov 517-373-1791 Martin Howrylak (41st District) – Troy, Clawson (Oakland County) MartinHowrylak@house.mi.gov 517-373-1783 Brandt Iden (61st District) – Portage (Kalamazoo County) BrandtIden@house.mi.gov 517-373-1774 Bill LaVoy (17th District) – Monroe, Flatrock, Rockford (Monroe & Wayne Counties) BillLaVoy@house.mi.gov 517-373-1530 David Maturen, Committee Vice Chair (63rd District) – Marshall, Galesburg (Calhoun, Kalamazoo County) DavidMaturen@house.mi.gov 517-373-1787 Pat Somerville (23rd District) – Trenton, Woodhaven, Gibraltar (Wayne County) PatSomerville@house.mi.gov 517-373-0855 Jim Townsend, Committee Vice Chair (26th District) – Madison Heights, Royal Oak (Oakland County) JimTownsend@house.mi.gov 517-373-3818 Michael Webber (45th District)- Rochester, Rochester Hills (Oakland County) MichaelWebber@house.mi.gov 517-373-1773 Ken Yonker (72nd District) – Kentwood, Wayland (Allegan, Kent Counties) KenYonker@house.mi.gov 517-373-0840 -- Kathleen Carlson, Field Coordinator U.P. Regional Labor Federation 906-361-4240 -- Kathleen Carlson, Field Coordinator U.P. Regional Labor Federation 906-361-4240