[Vision2020] "Commissioners Adjust Tax Exemptions for Moscow Church "

[Donovan Arnold]

The fact that Doug Wilson's Christ Church gets a tax exemption is fine with 
me. I think all religions should even if they happen to fall into the 
definition of "cult".

What bothers me more is that fact that Paul Kimmell did not consider it a 
conflict of interest that he vote on the issue. Do Mormons, Catholics, Jews, 
and Methodists get a vote on the County Commission when their churches want 
their taxes reviewed? I don't think so. So the fact that Mr. Kimmell would 
say that it was "fair" is beyond the pale. If Mr. Kimmell thinks the 
decision is so easy and fits within the guidelines of the law then he should 
step aside and allow the other two members of the Commission to vote without 
fear of the outcome.

Does Mr. Kimmell vote himself a tax reduction? Or his mother, brother or 
sister? Does he raise his enemies taxes while aiding his friends? It would 
appear from Mr. Kimmell's recent decision that not only does he not find 
this a conflict of interest, but he in fact seems to publicly gloat about 
it. I am ashamed that such a man is on the BOCC and should be investigated. 
If he does this publicly, what does he do in private that we don't know 
about?

Donovan J Arnold

>From: "Saundra Lund" <sslund@adelphia.net>
>To: "'vision2020'" <vision2020@moscow.com>
>Subject: [Vision2020] "Commissioners Adjust Tax Exemptions for Moscow 
>Church "
>Date: Tue, 4 May 2004 17:56:54 -0700
>
>At a time when the rest of us could be facing significantly increased
>property taxes, I was particularly interested in the BOE's (made up of our
>county commissioners) decisions yesterday.  The following article appeared
>in today's Daily News on page 2A:
>
>"Commissioners adjust tax exemptions for Moscow church
>
>Hillary Hamm
>
>Latah County commissioners approved an increase in the amount of tax-exempt
>property for Christ Church and New St. Andrews College Monday.
>
>Representatives from the church and college met with commissioners, who sat
>as the Board of Equalization, to discuss further property-tax exemptions 
>for
>the downtown Moscow buildings.
>
>Gregory Dickison, attorney for Christ Church, requested that the board
>change the rate of exemption because of recent reallotments of both church
>offices and college space.  Some areas that were once rented out, are no
>longer, freeing up more space for church activities.
>
>Dickison would not comments to the Daily News.
>
>He asked that the college, located on Main Street, change from 89 percent 
>to
>88.91 percent exempt, while church office space on Fifth Street would
>increase from 81 percent to 92 percent exempt.
>
>Assessor Steve Fiscus said Christ Church and New St. Andrews are exempt
>under state law, which allows churches and education facilities not to pay
>property taxes on their buildings and land.  But any time there are changes
>made to a tax-exempt property, the owner must meet with the Board of
>Equalization.
>
>Zumé Bakery and Cafe, located in the college building is taxable property,
>as is a second floor choir room and bookkeeper office.  In the church
>building, 725-square-feet of the space, rented to the Association of
>Classical and Christian Schools is taxable property.
>
>The alterations made to the facilities, both under the direction of Christ
>Church ministries, will be exempt until they are challenged by the 
>assessor,
>concerned citizens or space allotments are changed in the building, Fiscus
>said.
>
>Commissioner Paul Kimmell said the decision to increase the exemption 
>status
>of the church and college properties was easy.
>
>"It's our job to assess that in a fair manner," said Kimmell, who is a
>member of Christ Church. "If they fall within the perspective of Idaho 
>code,
>we wouldn't deny it. We want to make sure everything is fair. We want to
>treat everyone consistently."
>
>Hillary Hamm can be reached at (208) 882-5561, ext. 228, or by e-mail at
>hhamm@dnews.com."
>
>
>
>Saundra Lund
>Moscow, ID
>
>The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do
>nothing.
>-Edmund Burke
>
>
>
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