IT APPEARS THAT THERE WILL NOT BE LEGISLATION APPROVED THIS YEAR DEALING WITH THE SO-CALLED “DARK STORE” PROPERTY TAX LOOPHOLE. BIG BOX RETAILERS HAVE BEEN TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A COURT RULING THAT FINDS THEIR OPEN STORES SHOULD BE ASSESSED AT THE SAME VALUE AS A CLOSED STORE. THE STATE ASSEMBLY DID NOT VOTE ON THE MEASURE FOR ADJOURNING FOR THE SPRING—WHICH OSHKOSH CITY MANAGER MARK ROHLOFF SAYS MAY HAVE ENDED UP BENEFITING MUNICIPALITIES. LOCAL LEADERS WANT THE DARK STORE LOOPHOLE CLOSED BECAUSE IT TRANSFERS THE PROPERTY TAX BURDEN ONTO HOMEOWNERS AND SMALL BUSINESSES.
