Building a Wal-Mart superbox would probably raise Bangor property taxes. Surprising as it may seem, examination of tax records from municipalities in several states, including Maine, demonstrates that municipalities with more commercial real estate have higher property taxes. All real estate requires town services of some kind fire protection, police, water and sewer, road and road maintenance, and the like. True, commercial real estate usually pays more in taxes than it uses in services. However, commercial real estate brings people, who create residential real estate, which brings rising property taxes.
Additional residences require more schools and other services.
Any additional jobs that Wal-Mart might create would lead to higher property taxes. If Wal-Mart competition closes local businesses, those businesses will not pay property taxes, thus increasing the tax burden on the rest of us. If we add to Bangor s commercial real estate, let s bring businesses that will add value to the job market rather than providing poor substitutes for existing jobs, businesses that will bring money into the community by paying good salaries rather than sending money to Wall Street at the expense of poorly compensated workers who will require additional community support for basic health and other services. Undeveloped land brings the lowest tax burden to its community. Imagine 10 acres of open land.