Daily Mail
Americans paid $363.3 billion in property taxes in 2023 after levies shot up at their fastest rate in five years. A report by real estate data firm ATTOM found the figure rose by 6.9 percent from $339.8 billion in 2022, having already increased 3.6 percent the year prior. The average tax on a single-family property is now $4,062 per year as homeowners face a perfect storm of declining house prices and soaring tax bills.
US Office Vacancies Rise to a Record 19.8% in 1Q, Moody's Says
Bloomberg
US office vacancies hit a fresh peak in the first quarter as needs continue to evolve with hybrid work setups. Vacancies rose to a record 19.8%, Moody's Analytics said in a preliminary report Monday, from 19.6% in the fourth quarter of 2023. Despite the increase, the firm said that the early data points to a stable quarter for commercial real estate.
CONNECTICUT
Car Tax Repeal Runs Aground In Finance Committee
CT News Junkie
A bill that would have repealed the municipal motor vehicle tax by increasing the rate of property tax assessments died in the Finance committee Wednesday. The bill, Senate Bill 450, would have used a five-year phase-in plan to repeal the motor vehicle tax, incrementally raising the uniform property tax rate from 70% to 90%.
DELAWARE
This Delaware town doubled property taxes. Utility repairs and upgrades are one reason
Delaware Online
Smyrna Mayor Robert C. Johnson said the need to double property taxes was caused by years of using money from utilities funds and one-time revenues to cover everyday expenses in the general fund. Town council approved the 100% hike at Monday's council meeting, raising the rate from 47 cents per $100 of assessed value to 94 cents for property owners in town limits.
MARYLAND
Md. Lessee Owes Tax On Gov't Property, Appeals Court Says
Law360
A lessee of government property in Maryland that was sublet to other users was correctly denied a partial property tax abatement, the state appeals court has said, even though some subtenants...
Maryland assessments and taxation director replaced after agency failed to send notices on time
Baltimore Sun
Two months after state officials failed to notify more than 100,000 property owners in Maryland about their latest reassessments, the head of the agency in charge of assessments has been replaced. Gov. Wes Moore's office on Thursday announced Daniel K. Phillips will serve as the interim director of the State Department of Assessments and Taxation while a search begins for a new director.
MICHIGAN
This Michigan Supreme Court ruling could help speculators, not homeowners | Opinion
Detroit Free Press
The Michigan Supreme Court is poised to decide whether its 2020 ruling in the Rafaeli v. Oakland County tax foreclosure case should be applied retroactively. The tax auction is intended to allow county treasurers to recoup unpaid taxes by foreclosing on properties whose owners are three years behind on tax payments and selling those properties at auction.
TEXAS
Texas counties, cities embrace new child care center tax credit
The Texas Tribune
Its reach is limited to just a fraction of the providers in the state, but the exemption will be a boon for owners who can take advantage of it, supporters say — so the push is on to make the tax credit available to “as many as possible, as quickly as possible” said Kim Kofron, senior director of education for Children at Risk, a nonprofit advocacy group in Texas.
Tarrant appraisal ransomware attack: Officials offer first statement on criminal investigation
Fort Worth Report
The Tarrant Appraisal District found that less than 300 individuals had sensitive information impacted by a recent ransomware attack. While the criminal investigation is still ongoing, the appraisal district board and staff are “galvanized” to improve the safety and security of the district's systems, board chair Vince Puente said.
Solar Farm’s Property Tax Deal Was Rightly Revoked, Texas Argues
Bloomberg Law
Texas was within its rights to revoke a property tax break for a $520 million solar farm after discovering that the owner wasn't registered as a taxpayer in the state, Comptroller Glenn Hegar told an appeals court. ENGIE IR Holdings LLC and the Hamlin Collegiate Independent School District appealed the dismissal of their suit challenging Hegar's invalidation of their agreement to bring the project to the district.
KGNS
Alleged wiped-out property tax accounts are now being reinstated with penalties and fees, but not until some pointed out discrepancies that were uncovered the issues a while back. It's a discrepancy the Zapata County judge and current Tax Assessor-Collector Delia Mendoza said they have been trying to get answers to for years. With a lack of answers or assistance from state and federal agencies, they are bringing attention to it themselves.
Bexar County home appraisals are up, but not eye-popping
KSAT
Unlike the past few years, most Bexar County homeowners will be able to open their new property appraisals next week without freaking out. On average, residential valuations are up 2.44%, according to figures obtained from the Bexar County Appraisal District. That's a far cry from the near-16% increase last year and the 28% jump in 2022.
Gregg County property appraisal increases won't be as high as recent years
news-journal.com
The good news coming out of the Gregg County Appraisal District this month is that appraisal values aren't expected to increase as much as they have in the past couple of years. Property appraisals will go out April 12, said Chief Appraiser Mark Cormier.