WMC: Don’t blame business for illegal local assessments

Big box stores make easy villains.

Like when La Crosse wound up on the losing side of a tax assessment challenge with Macy’s recently and had to refund the chain a $151,000 settlement in three years of property taxes.

‘Another dark store loophole case,’ went the argument from La Crosse’s city hall, making it harder on homeowners.

Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce Senior Vice President of Government Relations, Scott Manley disputes that claim.

“It’s a great example,” Manley said, “of an instances where a local government has been very aggressive in setting a high price and then, when they either lose in court or when they have to settle in court for a lower amount, they blame retailers and say ‘They’re just trying to undercut their tax obligation.’”

Manley says the bigger issue is overly aggressive assessors, who sometimes illegally assess big box stores and smaller businesses alike and local governments should, perhaps, reverse the finger pointing. He hopes state lawmakers resist the urge to change the law.

“It would be a huge mistake if Wisconsin allowed this to happen and allow municipalities to raise taxes on main street businesses in our communities across Wisconsin,” he said.

Manley disputes the idea that local taxpayers are getting rooked when big chains fight and win against high assessments by municipalities.

“Think of any homeowner who believes that the local assessor has overvalued their property and thereby increased their property-tax bill,” Manley said. “ A business is no different than wanting to right size that assessment.”