In this episode of the GeTtin’ SALTy podcast, host Nikki E. Dobay is joined by Jared Walczak, Senior Fellow at the Tax Foundation and founder of Walczak Policy Consulting, to discuss the movement to reduce or eliminate real property taxes across the United States.

The conversation centers on Jared’s recently published paper, “Replacing the Irreplaceable,” released through the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, which uses Ohio as a case study to quantify what it would cost to eliminate the property tax and what replacing that revenue would require.

The discussion also addresses the challenge of redistributing replacement revenue back to local governments, the erosion of local fiscal accountability, and the incentives created by assessment caps in states like Florida and Oregon.

Jared and Nikki explore targeted, less disruptive alternatives – such as levy limits, circuit breakers, and deferral programs that can address legitimate hardships without dismantling property taxes.

The episode closes with a look at Florida’s pending ballot measure on an expanded homestead exemption and the consequences it may produce for renters, newer homebuyers, and local governments.

Tags: GT Insight
Print:
Email this postTweet this postLike this postShare this post on LinkedIn
Photo of Nikki E. Dobay Nikki E. Dobay

Nikki Dobay serves as a co-chair of the U.S. State and Local Tax (SALT) practice and is nationally known for her deep experience and understanding of state tax policy and the legislative process. She also advises her clients on sophisticated multistate tax issues

…

Nikki Dobay serves as a co-chair of the U.S. State and Local Tax (SALT) practice and is nationally known for her deep experience and understanding of state tax policy and the legislative process. She also advises her clients on sophisticated multistate tax issues as well as the consequences and planning opportunities related to corporate M&A transactions and oversees state and local tax controversy matters, ranging from audits to appellate litigation, and involving sales and use taxes, income and franchise taxes, property taxes, and constitutional issues.

Nikki regularly engages on key SALT issues impacting multijurisdictional taxpayers with national and statewide business and taxpayer associations, national tax administrator organizations, including the Federation of Tax Administrators (FTA), the Multistate Tax Commission (MTC) and Streamlined Sales Tax (SST), and state legislator organizations, including the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), and the Institute for State Policy Leaders (ISPL). She is also a frequent speaker on a broad array of SALT issues at various conferences across the country, including Council On State Taxation (COST), Tax Executives Institute (TEI), ABA, NYU, Hartman, Deloitte SALT Symposium, and various other regional conferences.

Prior to returning to private practice, Nikki spent five years as senior tax counsel for the COST, a national trade association representing large multistate businesses. While at COST, Nikki focused on the 13 most western states (including Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon Utah, Washington and Wyoming), and has a strong working knowledge of the tax regimes in all of these states. Nikki’s time at COST as well as her continual work with state tax administrators through the FTA, MTC and SST have resulted in her having strong relationships with state tax administrators across the country.

Nikki’s broad experience and in-depth knowledge of tax regimes in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho inform her handling of litigation and strategic tax matters in these states. Over the past 20 years, Nikki has consistently worked with taxpayers to address complex state and local tax issues in Oregon, including corporate income excise tax disputes, residency issues, and local tax home rule challenges. She played a pivotal role in drafting Oregon’s Corporate Activity Tax legislation and has represented clients in the Oregon Tax Court on issues ranging from business/non-business income litigation to challenges involving Portland and Metro taxing authority.

In Washington, Nikki advises her clients on all aspects of B&O tax, including handling audits and litigation. She is also involved in efforts to consolidate and streamline B&O tax filing through legislative advocacy and coalition-building, as well as advising clients on sales tax and residency matters. Her work in Idaho includes drafting and successfully passing updated apportionment provisions, as well as advising on corporate tax matters and disputes and legislative initiatives.

Read more about Nikki E. DobayNikki's Linkedin Profile
Show more Show less