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Get RSS FeedSchools toss monkey wrench in Meeting Haus tax exemption
By GARTH BISHOP
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After finally getting through a years-long waiting period, the German Village Society's ongoing quest to have its Meeting Haus declared tax-exempt appears to have hit another snag.
The Society Board of Trustees heard an update on the situation at its Monday, Feb. 1 meeting.
The society applied in 2003 to make the Meeting Haus exempt from real estate taxes, and last year, the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals overturned a denial of that application by the state tax commissioner, clearing the way for the building to be declared tax-exempt and for the Franklin County Auditor's office to remove the property from its tax rolls.
Because the building is owned by a tax-exempt entity and is used for charitable purposes, it is eligible for exemption, the tax appeals board ruled.
The Society Board of Trustees heard an update on the situation at its Monday, Feb. 1 meeting.
The society applied in 2003 to make the Meeting Haus exempt from real estate taxes, and last year, the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals overturned a denial of that application by the state tax commissioner, clearing the way for the building to be declared tax-exempt and for the Franklin County Auditor's office to remove the property from its tax rolls.
Because the building is owned by a tax-exempt entity and is used for charitable purposes, it is eligible for exemption, the tax appeals board ruled.
But the society recently received word that the Columbus Board of Education has moved to challenge the tax exemption.
This is understood to be standard procedure for the school district, said board President Darci Congrove. Property taxes generate revenue for the schools.
The society has filed a motion to dismiss the challenge, but does not know how long this step of the process will take to work itself out.
"We're kind of at a standstill right now," Congrove said.
Per the exemption, not only does the society no longer have to pay real estate taxes on the Meeting Haus, it also received a refund for the real estate taxes paid on the Meeting Haus since 2000.
The total refund -- minus a 10-percent contingency for Robyn Jones, the attorney who helped push through the exemption -- was estimated at about $119,000. The society won't be spending any of it while the challenge is processing, though.
"We're holding that money in a savings account and not spending a dollar of it right now," Congrove said.
Real estate taxes on the building average about $17,000 a year.
Other board matters
Also at its Feb. 1 meeting, the board:
* Received an update on the new German Village Society Web site, located at germanvillage.com. The new and improved Web site, a long-awaited project, went live last month.
* Approved a resolution of thanks to Columbus City Council for approving a budget amendment that will allow the city's Historic Preservation Office to restore one staff position.
The society and German Village Commission often work with the office, and additional staff will make the work easier and quicker for everyone, board members said.
* Got an update from Brian Santin on the ongoing Third Street master plan work. A representative from the city will likely attend the board's March 1 meeting to give the board a direct update on that project.
* Discussed plans for dedicated society volunteer Bob Jackson, who has been doing a great deal of work around the German Village Meeting Haus. Trustee Jerry Glick questioned whether the society was making Jackson take on too much work considering he is not paid for it, and Trustee Jeanne Likins said work is being done now to figure out which items are priorities for him and which ones he need not be asked to do.
This is understood to be standard procedure for the school district, said board President Darci Congrove. Property taxes generate revenue for the schools.
The society has filed a motion to dismiss the challenge, but does not know how long this step of the process will take to work itself out.
"We're kind of at a standstill right now," Congrove said.
Per the exemption, not only does the society no longer have to pay real estate taxes on the Meeting Haus, it also received a refund for the real estate taxes paid on the Meeting Haus since 2000.
The total refund -- minus a 10-percent contingency for Robyn Jones, the attorney who helped push through the exemption -- was estimated at about $119,000. The society won't be spending any of it while the challenge is processing, though.
"We're holding that money in a savings account and not spending a dollar of it right now," Congrove said.
Real estate taxes on the building average about $17,000 a year.
Other board matters
Also at its Feb. 1 meeting, the board:
* Received an update on the new German Village Society Web site, located at germanvillage.com. The new and improved Web site, a long-awaited project, went live last month.
* Approved a resolution of thanks to Columbus City Council for approving a budget amendment that will allow the city's Historic Preservation Office to restore one staff position.
The society and German Village Commission often work with the office, and additional staff will make the work easier and quicker for everyone, board members said.
* Got an update from Brian Santin on the ongoing Third Street master plan work. A representative from the city will likely attend the board's March 1 meeting to give the board a direct update on that project.
* Discussed plans for dedicated society volunteer Bob Jackson, who has been doing a great deal of work around the German Village Meeting Haus. Trustee Jerry Glick questioned whether the society was making Jackson take on too much work considering he is not paid for it, and Trustee Jeanne Likins said work is being done now to figure out which items are priorities for him and which ones he need not be asked to do.
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