Bout damned time, for too long have cities and local governments bent over and took it for the “economic opportunities” that supposed would come if we the taxpayer footed the bill for some new “bread and circuses” stadium to be build mostly using our hard earned dough.
Now let’s see if the unions will do the same.
Mixing the apples of the taxes to be paid (maybe) by the league office with the profits of the individual teams. I bet the accountants will be even more careful in the future to make sure that the league profits and taxes are closer to zero. Reduce the fees charged to each team to run the league office and run more of the money from networks, advertisers and merchandisers directly to the teams so 32 checks are written instead of one to the NFL for distribution to the teams.
Many “non-profits” and foundations are engaged in profit making activities or earning income on investments and should be taxed on income. Consider the NCAA, Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Clinton Foundation, Nature Conservancy. Others are political action groups using income from investments and activities to influence politicians - NRA, Sierra Club, NEA, Urban League, La Raza, and Planned Parenthood. I see Goodwill, Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity stores popping up around the country, competing directly with for profit retailers who are taxed. Colleges and universities generating income and profit on licensing activities, retail activities, sports, investments on endowment funds. Even some religious organizations earn significant income on investments in securities, sales of merchandise, and ownership of property.
Perhaps it is time to rethink the concept of non-profit. Require non-profits to report and pay taxes on income generated from investment funds, rentals, sale of merchandise and services, license fees, and other income generated from activities on which private sector “for profit” organizations pay taxes.
For example, why should the Ford Foundation be given an exemption on its investment and property income when a citizen pays taxes on investment and rental income as does a profit making company. To exempt the Ford Foundation from taxation of its income is to effectively subsidize its activities at taxpayer expense. Note I’m not talking about taxing donations of individuals to a foundation, I’m talking about taxing the foundation’s income.
With respect to religious institutions perhaps we should consider exempting only local church congregations and church buildings from taxes. This is the location at which the constitutionally protected freedom of religion occurs. The regional and national religious organizations are administrative organizations, not centers for individuals to exercise their religious beliefs. The profit making activities of the national and regional offices of religious organizations should be taxed.
Twice!
One of those pathetically misunderstood things that generated a lot of misplaced vigor. Only the league office was tax exempt, the teams pay plenty of taxes. And even without the exemption the league office STILL won’t be paying any taxes because the league office doesn’t make any money to pay taxes on.
Taxes are too high and government is irresponsibly wasteful in spending -— all to enhance its own power -— still I find it incredible that the NFL hasn’t paid taxes, and that major league sports teams get the communities to build their stadia on tax dollars.