NATIONAL
Renters Are Starting to Get Concessions From Landlords Again

The Wall Street Journal

When Tressy Coats looked to rent a somewhat worn-out, three-bedroom house in Virginia Beach, Va., two years ago, the market was so tight that 46 other people applied to rent the same home.This June, Coats found an ocean-facing, two-bedroom apartment in that city. The $2,100 a month rent was lower than she expected, and the landlord even cut the security deposit by about $1,000.

IDAHO
Assessor pins $53 million error on other county officials

Coeur d'Alene Press

Kootenai County Assessor Béla Kovacs has asked the Idaho State Tax Commission to audit the work processes of five county departments, including his own. In response, some county officials say they welcome an investigation. The request comes in the wake of a $53 million property value assessment error, which affected seven taxing districts and delayed the distribution of property tax notices until this week.

ILLINOIS
Schools' appraisal of Arlington Park site $32 million less than assessed value

Daily Herald

An appraisal of the former Arlington International Racecourse site commissioned by three suburban school districts valued the 326-acre parcel at $160 million. That's $32 million less than the current assessed value, according to a statement Friday from the three school districts.

LOUISIANA
Louisiana Illuminator : Louisiana board approves $80 million tax break for EV battery chemical plant with 9 permanent jobs

Magnolia Reporter

A state panel approved an $80 million tax break for a Japanese company that promises to create nine full-time jobs once it builds a chemical plant in Jefferson Parish. UBE Corp. plans to construct a new facility that manufactures chemical solvents for electric vehicle batteries inside the Cornerstone Chemical Complex, located on the west bank of the Mississippi River in Waggaman. 

MINNESOTA
Best Buy seeks lower property tax as Richfield offices sit half vacant

Star Tribune

Best Buy is asking for a property tax break on its headquarters in Richfield, pointing to offices they think have become less valuable as more people work from home. As part of the agreement for subsidies that funded the Richfield headquarters 20 years ago, Best Buy agreed to pay property taxes on a property value of no less than $118.5 million until the end of 2025.

MISSOURI
Messenger: Couple gets ‘rude’ reaction in St. Louis County tax challenge. They’re not alone.

STL Today

Like many senior citizens, Joel and Cheryl Miller live on a fixed income. He's a retired banker. She's a retired speech therapist. They own a second-floor condo just north of downtown Clayton. It's worth more than $550,000. I mention that number because it's the reason they wrote me. Actually, they copied me on a letter they wrote to members of the St. Louis County Council. 

MONTANA
Montana homeowners see higher property taxes as some big businesses pay less

KECI

Higher property tax bills are hitting homeowners across Montana this year as the state's tax system shudders into a new alignment following the first reappraisal cycle using tax appraisals reflecting the explosive growth in Montana home values during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. 

OHIO
Timber Property Eligible for Ohio Agricultural Tax Benefit

Bloomberg Tax

About 37 acres of property ought to be reinstated into an agricultural use tax benefit program, in accordance with the plain meaning of state law, the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals said Thursday. Nearly 23 acres of the property was used for commercial timber production, while the disputed approximately 14 acres was used to store farming and processing equipment, the opinion said. 

TEXAS
Brazos County Tax Assessor-Collector Kristy Roe Announces Not Running For Re-election

wtaw

Brazos County tax assessor-collector Kristy Roe announces she is not seeking re-election to a fifth term. Roe's 38 year career also included serving four terms as the tax assessor-collector in Coke County, which is north of San Angelo. Statement from Kristy Roe: I wanted to notify you that I have decided not to file for re-election for the 2025-2028 term of office for Brazos County Tax Assessor-Collector. 

Elon Musk company properties in Texas valued at $2.5 billion

NBC News

Elon Musk's footprint in Texas keeps getting bigger. The appraised value of properties in the state owned by the billionaire's companies has climbed in recent years to at least $2.5 billion, according to county land appraisal data aggregated by NBC News. An analysis of the data shows that the appraised value of Musk's companies' land holdings has grown over 400% in the past five years.

VERMONT
Barre set to add contract assessor filling three-year vacancy

timesargus.com

It isn't the full-time position officials envisioned, but the long wait for a new city assessor appears to be over. Three years after abruptly cutting ties with then-contract assessor Joe Levesque, the city council is expected to authorize City Manager Nicolas Storellicastro to execute a multi-year contract for part-time assessing services with Martin Appraisal Services of Montpelier. 

WASHINGTON
‘A run on land’: Assessor breaks down property valuations as landowners express sticker shock

The Daily Chronicle

As landowners throughout Lewis County received notices with their 2024 property valuations, The Chronicle received emails, phone calls, Facebook comments and letters to the editor, with two basic questions: “how?” and “why?” “My property value went up by over $100,000 last year. This year it went up well over $300,000,” one Nov. 15 email read.