Ohio Justices Asked to Void $5.7 Billion Pipeline Tax Valuation

The Ohio Tax Commission erroneously assessed a pipeline at $5.67 billion by ignoring maintenance expenses and improperly considering inflated construction costs, the property owner told the state high court on Monday.

The commission assumed the pipeline had an infinite use life, disregarding the varying expenses to upkeep the property, Rover Pipeline LLC said in a merit brief.

“Those assumptions are fanciful—indeed, indefensible—when applied to physical property, which necessarily breaks down due to wear and tear over time and so must be repaired or replaced,” Rover told the Ohio Supreme Court.

The commissioner’s appraiser, Brent Eyre, also factored atypical construction ...