LVT: Resources and Publications
You Get What You Tax For: How a Land Value Tax Can Help Us Build Prosperous Places
Strong Towns 2019
A land value tax is assessed on the value of a piece of land rather than the value of the buildings on that land. Many cities have switched to a land tax to encourage neighborhood investment and renewal. In this free e-book, we've combined our best content on the land value tax approach.
Assessing the Theory and Practice of Land Value Taxation
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy 2010
Property Tax Reform: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: The Lincoln Institute has long been interested in the writings of Henry George, who advocated land value taxation in his book Progress and Poverty (1879). The Institute has sponsored numerous studies on land value taxation and related topics, and in 2009, it published the book-length analysis, Land Value Taxation: Theory, Evidence, and Practice. Richard F. Dye and Richard W. England, the editors of that volume, summarize its research findings in this report and present recommendations for local policymakers considering alternative property tax measures.
Land Value Tax Analysis: Simulating the Tax in Multnomah County
Portland State University May 2019
This report, produced with support from Common Ground OR-WA, examines the impacts of a land value tax system in Multnomah County through a two-step modeling process that first eliminates the tax policy that has caused market-assessed value and actual market value to diverge and subsequently simulates a split-rate tax on a) land value and b) improvement value. A technical summary document accompanies the report.
National Association of Homebuilders: Pennsylvania Taxing Land and Buildings at Different Rates
NAHB January 2010
Land value taxes may improve housing affordability and revitalize declining cities. The Center for the Study of Economics, a Philadelphia-based non-profit started in 1980, advocates for land value taxes in communities nationwide. Joshua Vincent, the Center’s executive director, explained that a land value tax implemented to be revenue neutral (to leave overall property tax revenues unaffected)improves housing affordability in two ways.
What's so Great about Land Value Tax?
Robert Schalkenbach Foundation September, 2023
At Resource Justice, we spend a lot of time researching land value taxes and educating people about their benefits. Specifically, we explain how governments can use LVT to efficiently capture land rents and use them to lift people out of poverty or ease the burden of more harmful taxes on workers, homes, and businesses. With rising interest in these ideas, you may be wondering: What’s the big deal with land value taxes?
Authorize Local Government Land Value Tax
Colorado General Assembly October 2024
Submitting to the registered electors of the state of Colorado an amendment to the Colorado constitution concerning authorization for a local government that levies ad valorem tax, which is a property tax on all real and personal property not exempt from taxation, to instead, subject to local voter approval, levy a land value tax, which is a property tax that taxes property based only on the value of the underlying land and without regard to the value of any improvement built or used on the land.
RETHINKING PROPERTY TAX: RAISING REVENUE FROM COMMUNITY VALUES
Public Sector Digest May 2015
WHAT WE TAX MATTERS “The property tax is, economically speaking, a combination of one of the worst taxes— the part that is assessed on real estate improvements . . . and one of the best taxes— the tax on land or site value.” - William Vickrey (1999) Nobelist in Economics
What Happened When Pennsylvania Taxed Land?
Robert Schalkenbach Foundation 2023
In this article, we therefore conduct a thorough review of the rigorous empirical studies into LVT in Pennsylvania, to find out what the data tells us about the effects of shifting municipal taxes onto land. We find that LVT shifts in PA produced clear and consistent benefits: increased construction of housing and office buildings, less sprawl, more businesses, and higher property values overall. We proceed to explore each of these conclusions one by one, followed by an annotated bibliography that describes each study in turn. Finally, we bring these findings to life by exploring the downfall and revival of Pittsburgh over the past century.
Land Value Taxation in a Great American City
Robert Schalkenbach Foundation/Center for the Study of Economics February, 2021
On February 23, 2021 RSF, in conjunction with CPTR and 5th Square, hosted a webinar to address the City of Brotherly Love’s issues – from gentrification, to blight, to regressive taxation – and how it has been dealt a near fatal blow to its economy due to the pandemic. We explored the reimagining of one of the City’s most familiar taxes and how that could be the key to keeping long-time residents in their homes, encouraging private investment, and shoring up revenue streams in the time of social distancing and beyond. We had a fantastic turnout with a high level of engagement from elected officials and those interested in seeing Philadelphia – and other cities across the country – thrive during these uncertain times. We look forward to more webinars addressing issues that impact our communities.
Land Value Tax in Minnesota Can Boost Cities and Local Planning
Minnesota Post February 2020
Creating sustainable land use involves more than just planning. It also requires incentives. That’s why the North Star Chapter of the Sierra Club has joined with the Minnesota chapter of Common Ground USA to support state legislation that allows towns to create Land Value Tax (LVT) Districts.
Land Value Tax in Detroit: Why Now and How to Do It
City of Detroit, Office of Finance 2023
The Michigan Legislature can allow for real tax relief for homeowners and small businesses through legislation that allows cities like Detroit the choice to adopt the Land Value Tax Plan.
This legislation would help local governments maintain a stable revenue stream and discourage blight and land speculation. And while the Land Value Tax Plan may not be the right choice for every community, research shows it would be a major boost for Detroit.
Here’s a major study that highlights the enormous benefits of a Land Value Tax approach in other communities.
The legislation would empower local voters in municipalities to decide whether the Land Value Tax Plan is right for their community.