PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 22, 2022
The Maine Senate approved a bill Tuesday that would curtail big box stores’ ability to mount “dark store theory” challenges to their property tax valuations that could cost cities and towns hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax revenue. Senators voted 21-13 in favor of a bill that would limit the ability of big box stores like Walmart, Lowe’s and Sam’s Club to argue that real estate valuations for their stores should be based only on those for other big-box outlets, even if those stores are closed or have draconian deed restrictions that limit their use and value for tax purposes.