Well this is kind of bizarre.
Just as the DC Council approves a budget increasing the sales tax, the gas tax and the cigarette and small cigar tax, it is decreasing a tax on vacant properties from $10 to $5 per $100 of assessed value, the Washington Examiner reports.
Having watched a few ANC meetings in my day, I’m not about to suggest that councilmembers are softies on vacant, nuisance buildings.
The properties are unrelentingly annoying, generating loads of complaints, day-to-day reports on pot-smoking, litter pile locations, squatter intrusions, etc.—-all of which must translate into constant moaning to CMs’ offices.
Who would want to continue that tradition?
The Washington Examiner reports that “At-large Councilman Phil Mendelson, who is backing the reduction, said the $10 per $100 of assessed value rate was so high that “it will actually make it difficult for some property owners to sell or put their property back to use.”
Besides, the worst offenders will likely be keeping the $10 rate.
” Ward 4 Councilwoman Muriel Bowser is crafting language that would continue the $10 rate for the ‘worst offending properties,'” according to the story.