CANADA
Iqaluit churches upset after property tax bylaw leaves them in debt

Eye on the Arctic

In a speech to Iqaluit city council on March 26, John Maurice, the president of the council of Our Lady of Assumption Roman Catholic Church, said the bylaw has created a “crushing financial burden on most religious and charitable institutions in Iqaluit.” “Many of them will not be able to sustain the payments of these property taxes...

NATIONAL
Opinion | Property Taxes Drive Racism and Inequality

The New York Times

Property taxes are among the most powerful and stealthy engines of racism and wealth inequality our nation has ever produced. And while the Biden administration has offered many solutions for making the tax code fairer, it has yet to effectively tackle a problem that has resulted not only in the extraordinary overtaxation of Black and Latino homeowners but also in the worsening of disparities between wealthy and poorer communities.

FLORIDA
Florida tax collectors’ losing fight puts bond validations and homeowners at risk

The Capitolist

Florida voters should pay attention to who is running for tax collector this November because tax collectors around the State are losing an expensive litigation battle—footed by taxpayers—that threatens to send the Florida public bond market into turmoil.

ILLINOIS
How the Tax Assessor for Chicago is Cracking Down on a “Loophole”

The Real Deal

Third-generation small business owner Randy Jacklin was shocked when his latest Cook County property tax appraisals more than tripled. His business Jack's Inc. in Berwyn consists of a first-floor tool rental shop and showroom with a 1,700-square-foot apartment on the second floor.

Chicago Bears appeal property taxes on Arlington Heights site

Chicago Tribune

The Chicago Bears have filed a property tax appeal for the former Arlington International Racecourse, seeking a refund of $7.2 million from local taxing bodies, an attorney for local schools said Wednesday. The team filed the request with the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board for the site where the Bears had proposed building a $2 billion enclosed stadium.

Martwick: Our property tax system needs to be reevaluated

Illinois Senate Democrats

Under a measure from State Senator Robert Martwick, the property tax system in Illinois would face review by the Department of Revenue. “Taxpayers all across the state of Illinois are aware that the property tax system needs to be reformed,” said Martwick (D-Chicago).

MISSOURI
Proposed Missouri law would subject Jackson County Assessor to elections

KCTV5

State Rep. Dan Stacy, R-Blue Springs, is sponsoring a resolution already passed in the House that would make the office of Jackson County Assessor an elected position. The bill saw bi-partisan support in the Senate Committee on Local Government and Elections and even has support from the sitting Jackson County Assessor Gail McCann Beatty.

NEBRASKA
Nebraska property tax relief plan is pared back more, advances to final reading

Nebraska Examiner

Nebraska lawmakers further slimmed down a property tax relief plan sought by Gov. Jim Pillen before advancing it to final reading Wednesday evening. The 28-14 passage of Legislative Bill 388 came after a long debate over the idea of raising some taxes to reduce others, namely property taxes, and whether a portion of the bill was unconstitutional.

OHIO
Cincinnati residents frustrated over doubled, tripled property taxes

Yahoo

Cincinnati council member Mark Jeffreys created a property tax task force to figure out how the city can help residents who are dealing with rising property taxes. They held their first of two public town halls on the topic Wednesday night.

TEXAS
Lt. Gov. Patrick asks senators to study eliminating property taxes

Express News

Patrick, who leads the Senate, ordered legislators on Thursday to study a host of policies ahead of the upcoming legislative session, including whether Delta 8 and Delta 9 hemp products should be banned in Texas and how the state should regulate artificial intelligence.

Home values increase again in Lubbock County; LCAD addresses some land value increases

KCBD

The Lubbock Central Appraisal district is making up for lost time, realigning land values in some neighborhoods to better reflect the market. While those spikes are hitting some property owners, property values are up across the board. “The market is up, but it's not up as much from what we can tell as it has been the last couple years,” Chief Appraiser Tim Radloff said.

Dallas office vacancies stood at 26% in Q1

The Real Deal

Dallas' office sector flashed glimmers of hope in the first quarter, but vacancies remain high as companies continue to downsize and supply outpaces demand. The city saw 2.5 million square feet of leasing activity in the first quarter, indicating that demand is starting to bounce back after dropping to historic lows during initial years of the pandemic.