Common Ground USA is an all-volunteer organization that promotes land value tax shifts, rent-sharing land trusts, and other commons-based approaches to social, environmental and economic issues.

From the Common Ground USA Blog

Land Value Taxes—What They Are and Where They Come From

The Chicago Fed writes about Land Value Taxation, historical and comparative analysis.

“Legalize LVT (Land Value Tax) + Reform Zoning” online event

The Minnesota chapter of Common Ground USA – https://twincitieslvt.wixsite.com/commongroundmn – had a collaborative meeting with other Land Value Tax proponents like the Sierra Club. The follow-up and a link to the session may be found below.

Major NY Times article on Georgism, LVT, and Detroit

with comment by Georgist Tom Gihring. A major and in-depth article on Georgist Land Value Taxation - focusing on Detroit - has been published today in the New York Times. Several of our leading lights, past and present - like Common Ground members Mark Mollineaux and...

Portland’s Central City Task Force, a new focus of interest for Common Ground OR/WA during the period between Oregon’s major legislative sessions.

In August 2023, Governor Tina Kotek announced the formation of a Portland Central City Task Force (PCCTF), a convening of local elected, business, and community leaders working to tackle issues impacting the economic future of Portland’s Central City. Basically, this is in response to the problems of homelessness and drug use on the streets of Portland, and the exodus of businesses from the city due to alleged theft of retail stores. The office vacancy rate in downtown Portland has reached to 31.5%, among the highest in major U.S. cities.

Victoria to expand vacant residential land tax across state in bid to increase housing supply

Victoria’s treasurer has shocked the property industry and even some of his colleagues by announcing an expansion of taxes on vacant residential land during Jacinta Allan’s first day of parliament as premier.

Tim Pallas told an industry breakfast on Tuesday that he planned to introduce legislation to parliament this week, which will see the vacant residential land tax expanded to include the whole state from 1 January 2025.

Detroit ‘split tax’ plan squeezes through House committee, heads to floor

Lansing — A House panel Wednesday advanced a series of bills that would allow Detroit to adopt different property rates for occupied and vacant property, eking out a slim Democratic majority to propel a key legislative priority of Mayor Mike Duggan.

House Democrats failed to gain the needed support in Tax Policy Committee earlier Wednesday, but were able to flip the vote of a Grand Rapids Democrat later in the day and secure a majority for Duggan’s property tax reform legislation.