Based on the local data, I think my elevator pitch for a #LandValueTax is gonna be like this, more or less...

Under the current system, most of us pay a little bit too much property tax, to subsidize vacant buildings and empty lots that pay far too little.

The system hasn't totally collapsed because, if you're doing business, paying water and electric and gas bills, paying employees, then property tax isn't your only expense.

🧵

But if you're sitting on a vacant building and speculating on the land, then property tax kinda _is_ your only expense.

So enacting an LVT won't cut your rent by much. It won't help new homeowners much.

It helps _the community_ because we no longer have vacant buildings taking up acres of valuable real estate downtown. Those vacancies produce no value for anyone and we have here an easy way to fix that, without having to even define "vacant" at all.

Now as a side effect, it will punish car dealerships and golf courses, because an LVT perceives those as vacant lots.