Taxing blight may not necessarily lead to less of it. While the idea behind taxing blighted properties is to create an incentive for owners to improve or sell the land, there are several factors that could hinder its effectiveness.
Firstly, the high tax rate on blighted properties may simply result in owners abandoning their properties or selling them to speculators who are willing to hold onto the land without making any improvements. This could lead to more vacant properties and exacerbate the blight problem.
Secondly, taxing blighted properties may disproportionately affect low-income homeowners or small businesses that are already struggling financially. This could result in further financial hardship for these individuals and potentially lead to more foreclosures or business closures.
Thirdly, the effectiveness of taxing blight depends on the accuracy of property assessments. If assessments are not conducted properly or are subject to manipulation, there is a risk that blighted properties could be overvalued, leading to unfair tax burdens on owners.
Lastly, taxing blight may not address the underlying issues that contribute to blight in the first place, such as economic decline, lack of investment, or inadequate city planning. Without addressing these root causes, simply imposing taxes may not lead to meaningful change.
Overall, while taxing blight may seem like a solution to incentivize property improvement, there are potential drawbacks and limitations to consider. It is important to carefully evaluate the potential impact and unintended consequences before implementing such a policy.
https://www.economist.com/united-states/2023/10/05/detroit-wants-to-be-the-first-big-american-city-to-tax-land-value
