Governor Says He Will Close Dark Store Loophole

(Madison) Governor Tony Evers told the annual meeting of the Wisconsin Counties Association something they’ve been waiting to hear. He says his budget is not just about transportation but is also going to make good on the promise he made last December, to close the dark store loophole in the state of Wisconsin.

The dark store loophole allows big box retailers to base their tax assessments on the value of vacant stores, reducing their property tax assessments and shifting the tax burden to residential homeowners and local small businesses. Both Beaver Dam and Waupun passed resolutions backing the statewide initiative to eliminate the loophole.