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Overall Nonprofit
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Written by <a href='/community/profile?userid=427'>Derrick Feldmann</a>
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Tuesday, 22 December 2009 10:30 |
An Early Christmas Gift: Property Taxes
By Nick Parkevich, MPA, CFRE
In case you missed it in today’s The Chronicle of Philanthropy, nonprofit organizations in one Indiana County are receiving an early Christmas gift from their local taxing authority: property-tax bills. This measure or one similar in nature has been brought before the Indiana General Assembly a number of times now, but St. Joseph County has now enacted levies against “profit-making” properties owned by nonprofits.
These measures obviously come at a time when both government entities and nonprofits are struggling financially; with some organizations closing or considering mergers. With nearly 2 million nonprofit entities registered in the U.S., the sector has been a growing target for taxing bodies.
There is no question that nonprofits benefit from public goods and services just as much as any other tax-paying entity. The question is whether the benefit in tax revenues derived by taxing nonprofits is worth the potential harm that comes—from the taxes, user fees, or whatever else you want to call it—in forcing organizations to redirect revenues away from their mission?
I think I feel a lawsuit coming!
Visit the article in today’s The Chronicle of Philanthropy here.
About the blogger: Nick Parkevich, MPA, CFRE, serves as Consultant & Director of Client Development at Achieve, LLC. Nick can be reached by phone at 317-637-3000 or via email at nparkevich@achieveguidance.com. |
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