I’ve seen a statistic that states if Churches alone were taxed we could adequately fund Medicare, Medicaid and other welfare related programs.

No mention on benefits to schools including colleges. i, for one, am all for taxing the churches. Basically their welfare programs (helping the poor) are designed to keep people poor and an attendee. The LDS church for example has the poorest programs too aid anyone because you need to be an active member to qualify, have several interviews with a bishop before they allow you to go to their food bank (Bishop’s Warehouse) and even then they make it known it is usually a one or two time trip. Nothing is done to help members find better jobs, or education, or even lift them out of poverty.

Source: An in-law who is LDS and a former Bishop’s counselor.

EDITOR NOTE–PLEASE stay on the broader question. I don’t want to get into a religious debate of LDS, Catholic, etc. This comment is OK, but let’s not go after any specific denomination.

Does the $1 Billion in property value include Schools and Government buildings, parks and lots? If one adds up the tax exempt properties in the city of Boise’s downtown core and looks at the monies the local elected officials spend in that area WE really need to question who the elected officials are working for.

JUMP – the church of the Simplot Co.? Where you pay to go in and do something.

Not for the depressed or inebriated – indeed you could actually JUMP!

Tax exemptions are not the problem but the abuse of the exemptions and the greed of those hospitals, organizations, and corporations who do profit excessively.

The issue of the JUMP being tax exempt needs to be looked at.

You PAY big to go to JUMP. All the classes are expensive and made only for those that can afford them.

The Simplot Corporation pays rent on the land to JUMP so that the Simplot Corp can write off the payments as they go to a “non-profit”.

The whole Simplot “monument” is a joke on the citizens of Boise. The Simplots don’t do anything to benefit the community – they only do what benefits themselves.

And to David above – your comments are 100% not correct. Been there – they helped (and do help) a lot.

Whoa Sassy girl! I gotta get off here and vote.

I vote “no exemption”.
Two different topics being blended into one.
One- tax-exempt status is the federal declaration for income taxes and has little to do this topic although it tends to be the brunt of comments and opinions.
Two- THIS issue is only about property tax. The State of Idaho has determined organizations with the federal exemption do not have to pay property tax.

Easy remedy- organizations should have to QUALIFY for the property tax exemption.
Old people have to qualify for a reduction on their personal home property tax- organizations should too!
See Idaho’s Property Tax Reduction Program.
For example, it could be:
A) if organizations gets more than 50% of their support from the state or county, then they get an exemption on qualified property.
B) if an organization has more than a million dollars in assets they don’t get an exemption.

Keep in mind it is not just the real property (dirt) but the operational equipment (tangible property) such as x-ray machines.

Exempting St Luke’s is much different than exempting a Terry Reilly’s medical clinic.

Would anything with such reasonableness pass in Idaho? No. And that is solely based on the religious hold on Idaho’s legislature. Booo!

BUT FIRST: Assessors should be required to maintain records for assessed value on ALL exempt property and report to Commissioners annually- made public, of course. TWO, developers getting the ag exemption is bs.

A good article from last year:
“They stop paying tax and everyone else pays a little more,” http://www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/article60332921.html

Editor:

Clarification of property tax exemption for churches:

I.C. 63-602B States: used exclusively for and in connection with any combination of religious, educational, or recreational purposes or activities of such religious limited liability company, corporation or society, including any and all residences used for or in furtherance of such purposes.

Thus, Cathedral of the Rockies continues to have tax exemption to the property on Fort Street that they purchased for development because it is dedicated presently to a community orchard and garden. I guess that is a recreational or educational purpose????

You do realize this means we must publicly fund a 280 story building just so the DC scum can’t make fun of us.

http://www.heraldsun.com/opinion/article190850349.html