An approach to property taxation where land and its buildings or structures are taxed at different rates, the rate on land being significantly higher that the rate on buildings. The traditional land-building property assessment method (i.e., the assessment method at same rates) creates an incentive for sprawl as local governments seek development to improve land in their community and increase property tax revenues. Landowners in dense areas or near transit have an incentive to build or improve their properties. The split-rate property tax is a valuable tool for commercial revitalization and compact development. It discourages land speculation and increases redevelopment at sites adjacent to infrastructure. This tool may work very similar to site-value taxation. Source/Reference: Georgia DCA, 1998, pp. 27; NACo, JCSC, and SGN, 2001, pp. 36.