[Vision2020] Tax abuse rampant in nonprofits

[Barbara Richardson Crouch]

Mark,

Many other communities in the US have universities or colleges that are 
tax exempt and do not seem to have the perceived tax burder or problem 
that Moscow has.  For example, Pocatello has ISU however, they also have 
diversified their economy so that they are not overly dependent on ISU for 
their economic base - and yes their tax rate is lower than ours.  
Basically, a governmental budget is like any other budget - if you spend 
more than you earn - there is a problem.  The people of Moscow may want 
more services than they are willing to pay for - or allow development for -
 that will not be corrected by bringing in more revenues from taxing the 
University or other governmental units.  

Barbara

> I don't know how it could be accomplished, but I'd love to see all tax
> exemptions abolished and a proper distribution of the resulting tax 
dollars.
> I have a sense that most tax exempt entities do not provide a comparable
> community benefit to offset tax "losses".  Even if a governmental agency 
is
> taxing itself (State, County, Federal, UI, USPO, etc.) - I'd prefer to 
have
> them taxed and the revenues distributed in a revamped system.  I'm 
curious
> as to whether this would prove to be beneficial for a greater good or 
just a
> shift of burden from current paying entities at the expense of current
> exempt entities.  Maybe Moscow is unique with its overly burdened tax 
payer,
> but what would be the negatives that cancel the benefits of a more evenly
> distributed tax burden?  Perhaps an economist or others can weigh in on 
this
> and provide me with better insight?
> 
> Mark
> 
> Mark Seman, Architect
> Heather Seman, Landscape Architect
> 1404 East 'F' Street  Moscow, Idaho 83843
> v 208-883-3276 / f 208-883-0112
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com
> [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]On Behalf Of Ron Force
> Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 3:09 PM
> To: vision2020 at moscow.com
> Subject: [Vision2020] Tax abuse rampant in nonprofits
> 
> 
> Tax Abuse Rampant in Nonprofits, IRS Says
> 
> By Albert B. Crenshaw
> Washington Post Staff Writer
> Tuesday, April 5, 2005; Page E01
> 
> ....Everson raised particular concerns about nonprofit hospitals and how 
hard
> it is to distinguish them from for-profit hospitals; political activity 
by
> nonprofits; misuse of entities set up to allow religious leaders to hold
> property and conduct business for the benefit of a religious 
organization;
> and deals designed to allow members of a tribe to benefit from gambling
> revenue without owing taxes...
> 
> http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A26388-2005Apr4.html
> 
> 
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> 
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