Oct 8, 2007 10:57 AM
New North Georgia YMCA Denied Tax-Exempt Status
FORT OGLETHORPE, GA -- The North Georgia YMCA in Fort Oglethorpe, GA, will have to pay property taxes on the 4.5 acres slated for its new facility, according to The Catoosa County (GA) News.
The property currently has tax-exempt status because it is a government entity. However, members of the Catoosa County Board of Assessors say the board will not grant an exemption to the new Y facility for 2007 because the property lease’s filing came after Jan. 1. Under state law, the board must base all decisions based on Jan. 1 of the tax year in order for there to be an exemption, the newspaper reported.
Members of the board were also not convinced that the use of the land was for a purely public charitable purpose, according to the newspaper.
Based on the $7.1 million bond issue figure for the new Y, annual property taxes would be approximately $65,000.
The North Georgia YMCA did not respond to immediate calls for comment.
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Pamela Kufahl
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