The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "property tax cuts" ...
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Taxing Baltimore
Baltimore City' s high property tax rate is often cited as a major drag on its ability to keep and and attract both residents and businesses. Our reporting showed, for the first time, how a decades-old tax credit for homeowners has made it nearly impossible for the city to cut its rate, while also causing massive disparities in tax bills even when houses have the same value.
Tags: homeowners; property taxes; tax credit
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In no time, valuations are reduced: Douglas County Board members, alone or in pairs, cut almost $60 million from tax rolls this summer in unreviewed decisions
"A World-Herald analysis shows that the seven Douglas County board members, working alone or in pairs, cut almost $60 million from county tax rolls in cases that the full board rubber-stamped -- but never reviewed. Individual board members made decisions on the spot, often with little evidence or little time to examine property owners' claims. Most property owners obtained at least some reduction. In one noteworthy example, a lone commissioner cut nearly $11 million from the valuations of a campaign contributor who owns numerous apartments and office buildings -- reductions that were opposed by the county assessor's office and not supported by the board's own professional advisor. Some of his decisions took as little as one minute, and the whole process lasted less than an hour."
Tags: property taxes; city government; corruption; political favors
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Farming the System
The series explored loopholes across the country that allow developers to get extremely low property tax rates on land under laws intended to keep working farmers and timber growers from being taxed off their property. In many states, a developer need only cut hay on a property a couple of times a year to qualify for the benefit, and many states require no proof the "farm" actually earns any money. The reporters documented millions of dollars in savings reaped by people who fully intended to develop their land, some of whom saw their taxes drop by up to 400 times fair market value.
Tags: farmland; property tax breaks; Knapp Properties Inc.; construction; development; Lincoln Institute of Land Policy; Scythe & Spade; Hertz Farm Management; landowners; property appraisal; Vortex LLC
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A no-win proposition for Orange County
The Orange County Register examines Proposition 13, which dramatially reduced and capped local property taxes 25 years ago, and looks at how those cuts are distributed. It finds that "decades after Proposition 13, local governments are seeking parity, with little success" and cities depend on retail now more than housing.
Tags: Proposition 13; Orange County; California; local government; taxes; housing; property taxes; legislation
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Are your property taxes making you say, 'Ouch'?
The Chicago Sun-Times examines rising property tax assessments and the Cook County Board of Review, who made the tax cuts and "whose three commissioners also solicited nearly $500,000 in campaign donations from attorneys who won cuts for their clients."
Tags: property taxes; Cook County Board of Review; Chicago; property owners; property tax cuts
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Schools' Taxes Bartered Away to Garner Jobs
Cities are cutting deals with major companies to keep jobs in town. The deals are also cutting away property tax money, which is the main funding for public schools.
Tags: education; taxes; jobs; property taxes
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Tax reform shackles many metro schools
A popular property tax cut in 1994 is putting Detroit area schools in a bind. Spending cuts occured in at least 40 percent of districts and many reserves are already dried up. Both upper and low income school districts have been hit. This story analyzed how this happened and other effects the proposal had on area schools.
Tags: education; taxes; property taxes; propositions
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Battling for Business
Ohio municipalities have the authority to cut corporate property taxes to encourage industrial job creation and development, an incentive Lake County has used aggressively. The relocations have displaced hundreds of local jobs, about one for every three they've reportedly created, according to an analysis of county data. Further investigation showed that even jobs reportedly "created" are sometimes transferred from other places. This five-part series examines the issue.
Tags: None
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Tax Tribunal Often Sides with Upset Home Owners, Big Business Win Appeals for Tax cuts, and Township Between Rocks, Hard Place
The Detroit Free Press investigates the Michigan Tax Tribunal, which rules on appeals of property tax assessments by homeowners and businesses. The Free Press analyzes the Tribunal decisions establishing a record and pattern of its rulings regarding homeowner appeals. Three separate stories.
Tags: CAR; Real estate
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No title (id: 7532)
Ann Arbor News investigates questionable hardship property tax cuts in the city of Ann Arbor; many of those tax cuts go to homeowners that most people would not term hard up, Nov. 18, 1990.
Tags: MI Lam CAJ