This paper relies on a review of the literature on property tax incentives for business, a new database on property tax economic development incentives, and several state case studies to identify pitfalls in using this economic development tool. Several potential reforms are identifi ed.

The authors analyze the effects of property tax abatement on the property tax base and rates of school districts within a municipality offering the abatement using data from Franklin County, Ohio, one of the most populous counties in the United States. An increase in a school district’s Community Reinvestment Area abatement intensity correlates with (a) a decrease in the mill rate for real property, (b) a decrease in effective residential and nonresidential property tax rates, and (c) an increase in total market value of property. While these effects are small, they indicate that a municipality’s decision to abate has generated enough growth in property values, either through improvements to physical property or positive capitalization for existing property values, to offset the negative effects of an abatement. The reason for this may be that the restrictions and oversight used in this abatement program are greater than in most other places.