Preserve property tax exemptions for Florida nonprofits | Opinion by Vice Chair of the NCF Board of Trustees Ron Christaldi

Post Date and Author:

March 23, 2021 - by Tampa Bay Times

Categories:

In the Media

From Tampa Bay Times, March 22, 2021

Mote Marine Aquarium, Selby Botanical Gardens and the Florida Studio Theatre are among the nonprofits in Sarasota County that have long been exempt from paying property taxes.

Now, Sarasota Property Appraiser Bill Furst wants those revered institutions and other nonprofits to start paying property taxes and potentially face new tax bills ranging anywhere from 3 percent to 100 percent of their property value, blowing a big hole in their budgets and jeopardizing their ability to perform their missions. We all lose if that happens.

The stated reason for Furst’s move: The nonprofits derive revenue from accessory uses like restaurants, gift shops and property rentals.

Read the entire column here.