I pity the rest of the homeowners in the area that will be getting saddled with the re-allocated tax bill; it isn’t like the municipality lays off teachers and/or cops when a property drops off the tax rolls. A lot of resistance to houses of worship here in north Jersey is based strictly on that issue; regardless of the denomination, most homeowners (and politicians, and gubmint workers) would benefit more if a taxable business or housing was put in instead.
So, the fact that the property goes to a nonprof doesn't really impact anybody else.
What was 100 acres of farmland or undeveloped woods taxed at ?
$1000 a year?
Here on FR we talk about cutting taxes.
We talk about charitable giving.
Here someone gives a YUUUGE amount,
And you guys b!tc# about the amount of property taxes NOT REALIZED.
As if it's an actual hardship for others.
This isn’t New Jersey. This is rural Missouri. The land wasn’t generating any tax revenue BEFORE the mansion was put up, because the value of empty land in most of the country just isn’t that much.
Also, whatever their excuse the resistance to “houses of worship” being built is USUALLY really they’re a bunch of anti-religious putzes, trying to justify their hatred. Any land value a house of worship holds is likely to simply be displaced to somewhere else; it’s not like houses of worship COMPETE with residents, businesses, industry, etc., in the sense of “there’s a church here, INSTEAD of a store.” The store still finds its niche in the market and still builds in the community. Yes, the Church takes up physical space that could be used by a for-profit building, but that for-profit building USUALLY is simply going to create higher-density construction somewhere else.
The ONLY sliver of truth to the notion that municipalities lose revenue when houses of worship come in is that they tend to attract families, which mean taxes spent on schooling, etc. Church families tend to affluent and legally married, and so usually generate more tax revenue. However, they displace gays and lesbians, who usually are childless, and, because they’re childless, are pure disposable income. Oh, how those New Jersey bean-counters LOVE homosexuals!!!