A city in Maine has decided to enforce thousands of dollars in
property taxes on a congregation because, its assessment board ruled,
the church doesn’t qualify as a charity.
Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Rockland, Maine, filed suit in
the Knox County Superior Court last month over a legal loophole that
allows the city to charge taxes on the church’s driveway and parking
lot, while exempting other non-profit organizations from the same costs.
“Maine’s tax exemption statutory scheme is fundamentally flawed,” explains the Alliance Defense Fund,
a non-profit legal organization that defends religious freedom. “The
statute broadly exempts property owned by and used for not-for-profit
groups, including charities, hospitals, fraternities, child care centers
and veterans groups. The parking lots of these organizations are
tax-exempt, no questions asked.
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DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
There are lots of "churches" that exist only for the purpose of the tax exemption. They really are nothing more than social clubs.
ReplyDeleteWow religious persecution the left are truly Nazi's.
ReplyDeleteWhy is it persecution 9:33?
ReplyDeleteALL churches, synogogue's,temples of religion should be taxed like any other business.
Why not?
I think ALL churches should be required to submit to a annual third party auditor in order to maintain their tax free status. I know for too many "men of the cloth" walking around like Mr. T. It's a business for a lot of people these days, and it's a loophole that's been taken advantage of long enough.
ReplyDeleteChurches run on donations that have already been taxed and then spend it on their expenses as well as feeding the hungry and clothing the poor why do they owe taxes? It's literally taking food out of peoples mouths.
ReplyDeleteAtheists are an arm of the democrat party used to beat people over the head who have a different belief.
ReplyDelete9:32,you got that right!Salisbury has about 200 churches that are open 1 day a week.I though the whole mission of the church was to help the poor and homeless.
ReplyDelete2:44
ReplyDeleteMost churches have other functions that help out the community. They are open more than 1 day a week. Try visiting a church once in a while and learn before you speak.