Media Links and Articles
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The Michigan Municipal League’s Chris Hackbarth testifies at Dark Stores hearing on Dec. 9, 2015
“Extreme Disappointment” and “Disgust” from City Commission in Response to Active Tribunal Cases – The Sault News, Oct. 7, 2020
Municipalities Hope for Legislation on Dark-Store Loophole – MiBiz, Aug. 18, 2019
Dark Stores – dbusiness magazine, July-August 2019
State Legislature Must Fix ‘Dark Store’ Problem – The Daily News, July 9, 2019
How Big-Box Stores Bilk Local Governments – Slate, Feb. 7, 2019
Municipalities Push ‘Dark Store’ Bills Seeking Property Tax Clarity – MiBiz, Feb. 3, 2019
‘Dark Store’ Appeals on the Rise in Wisconsin as Issue Hits Ballots This Fall – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Aug. 28, 2018
Taxes, Big-Box Stores And The ‘Dark Store Theory’ – NPR Michigan Radio, Nov. 23, 2017
WATCH Oral Argument Before Michigan Supreme Court – Menard, Inc v City of Escanaba, Oct. 13, 2017
LISTEN to a WJR radio show interview on this Dark Stores topic between the League’s Chris Hackbarth and WJR’s Frank Beckman. Be sure to listen to the subsequent interview between Beckman and State Rep. Jeff Farrington, R-Utica. (Scroll down the page and look under Nov. 5).
How Big-Box Retailers Weaponize Old Stores – Bloomberg Businessweek, Dec. 8, 2016
West Bend [Wisconsin] asks governor, legislators to close tax loopholes: City could lose revenue due to ‘dark store’ assessments – G M Today, Nov. 2, 2016
Michigan local leaders say property tax appeals are common, disagree with “dark stores” assessing – University of Michigan Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy, Oct. 2016
Traverse City Officials Worry Costco Might Seek Dark Store Tax Assessment – Interlochen Public Radio, April 29, 2016
“Dark stores use legal loophole at cost of taxpayers” – WNEM TV 5, Nov. 20, 2015
Bills Target Property Tax Cuts Big Box Stores – Detroit Free Press, Oct. 3, 2015
Big box stores ringing up property tax discounts – Detroit Free Press, April 11, 2015
Texas
Retailers like Lowe’s use ‘dark store’ loophole to cut Texas tax bills – San Antonio Express-News, Oct. 7, 2016