NATIONAL
The 'office apocalypse' is upon us
Business Insider
Before the pandemic, 95% of offices were occupied. Today that number is closer to 47%. Employees' not returning to downtown offices has had a domino effect: Less foot traffic, less public-transit use, and more shuttered businesses have caused many downtowns to feel more like ghost towns. Even 2 1/2 years later, most city downtowns aren't back to where they were prepandemic.
ARKANSAS
Some Arkansas county offices still offline a month after cyber attack
KLRT
One month ago, a cyber-attack crippled dozens of Arkansas counties and their online access. Monday, our station learned some offices are still offline. Each affected county is using the company Apprentice Information Systems (AIS) for its servers.
FLORIDA
County provides nearly $1M in incentives to lure New York plastic manufacturer to Pasco
Business Observer
Gary Plastic Packaging Corp. announced Tuesday, Dec. 2, it is moving into 279,000 square feet of space in a new 400,000-square-foot building currently under construction at the North Pasco Corporate Center. The building is one of two being built on 72 acres in Spring Hill.
Florida lawmakers set to meet for special session on property insurance, property tax relief
WFLA
The Florida Legislature will meet next week for a special session on property insurance and property tax relief in the wake of damage caused by Hurricane Ian, officials announced Tuesday. The leaders of the Florida House and Senate issued the proclamation convening the Legislature from Dec. 12 to 16.
ILLINOIS
Chicago Welcomes Two New Members To Board of Review
The Real Deal
A pair of newly elected commissioners on Cook County's Board of Review have sparked hopes for a spirit of cooperation–for a change. Samantha Steele took office to replace Michael Cabonargi and former Ald. George Cardenas replaced Tammy Wendt, the Chicago Tribune reported.
INDIANA
Vigo Co. Council approves both Saturn Petcare 10 year tax abatement resolutions
MyWabashValley.com
Tuesday evening, the Vigo County Council approved both 10 year tax abatement resolutions for Saturn Petcare in a special meeting. The council vote was six to one on both resolutions. The 10 year personal property tax abatement, and the 10 year real property tax abatement. It comes after a public hearing on the resolutions.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Superior Court judge denies injunction against statewide property tax
NH Business Review
Judge David Ruoff has denied a motion to enjoin the state from levying the statewide education property tax that was sought by the plaintiffs in the school-funding suit underway in Rockingham County Superior Court. The ruling has no direct bearing on the underlying constitutional issues on which the plaintiff's challenge to the school-funding system hinge.
TEXAS
Greg Abbott, Dan Patrick diverge on property taxes, power grid
The Texas Tribune
Both Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick want to use the state's massive budget surplus to deliver property tax relief, but they appear split on how far to go — and how to pay for it. And in a starker contrast, Patrick has deemed it a top priority to continue fixing the power grid, while Abbott has declared the issue resolved.
For the first time, community hears from Tesla about proposed facility
KRISTV
Monday was the first opportunity the community had, to hear from Tesla on their proposed lithium refinery facility. Tesla previously filed a chapter 313 tax application which revealed details about the facility they want to bring to Nueces County.
VIRGINIA
King William real estate assessments could rise by almost 80%
Daily Press
Property owners in King William County are likely to see their assessed values soar by up to 80% when they receive new notices in the next few weeks. Notwithstanding soaring property values, the Board of Supervisors has pledged to keep down increases in tax bills via a board of equalization process before new bills go out next year.