Charities hit up for taxes

It’s the season of greed on Beacon Hill — and no one is safe, not even those charities dedicated to helping the poorest among us.

Once again a number of lawmakers have set their sights on non-profits, attempting to hold them up for at least a portion of the real estate taxes they would owe cities and towns if they were taxed at the prevailing rate. Two approaches to that taxing problem were the subject of a legislative hearing this past week; both would leave it to communities to opt into such a plan.

One would require all nonprofits to pay 25 percent of the usual property tax — with no exceptions, not for churches or schools or the local Y.

A bill filed by Rep. David Nangle (D-Lowell) is a bit more nuanced, exempting religious organizations but also aiming for big bucks from colleges and universities, hospitals and major charities. In fact, any non-profit where the salaries of the top five officials, employees or contractors total $2.5 million could see a tax bill set at 50 percent of the going rate for at least three years (it declines to 25 percent after that). New property would be taxed at the full rate for the first year and decline in subsequent years.

Still the hit to schools, hospitals, museums, arts organizations would be enormous.

“Honestly, I am only looking at the top tier of non-profits and charitable organizations,” Nangle insisted, estimating that his bill would affect 5 percent of the state’s 38,000 non-profits. “It absolutely will never reach down to the smaller non-profits, the ones that I say do God’s work.”

Well, that’s a relief! But not so much for the countless organizations and institutions that educate our young people, care for the sick, do trailblazing research or help preserve our most treasured resources. The charitable tax exemption was created for a reason — a reason that has not changed, nor should the exemption.