[MassHistPres] FW: Property tax question

[Streb, David]

Our Assessor explains below:

dstreb at ci.fitchburg.ma.us  - David J. Streb, Planning Coordinator


-----Original Message-----
From: Caputi, Thomas
Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 4:44 PM
To: Streb, David
Subject: RE: [MassHistPres] Property tax question

Dave;
The reason is that the non-profit has to be a legal non-profit and they have to qualify every year.  When they apply for exemption, they have to state what property they own as of July 1.  If they purchase property after July 1, the tax on that property is already committed to the tax collector for collection. If they don't pay it, the property goes into tax title because the tax is outstanding. They need to clear the tax for the balance of that fiscal year to prevent the tax title.  We have the same problem with the State College, when they buy property and it's taken off the tax rolls. The tax is owed for the full year, but the previous owners stop paying once they sell the house to the non-profit state college. Then the balance of the tax becomes outstanding and the prior owner gets the lien and we have to foreclose on the college.
Tom C

-----Original Message-----
From: Streb, David
Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 4:32 PM
To: Caputi, Thomas
Cc: Wilson, Ken
Subject: FW: [MassHistPres] Property tax question

I thought you might find this to be an interesting assessment story.

dstreb at ci.fitchburg.ma.us  - David J. Streb, Planning Coordinator


-----Original Message-----
From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu [mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of Gary T. Leveille
Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 12:44 PM
To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
Subject: [MassHistPres] Property tax question

The Great Barrington Historical Society has been a non-profit since the late
1970s. Only July 5th we purchased our first building - a 1771 farmhouse -
threatened with immediate destruction by a developer. After extensive
fund-raising and major renovations, The Captain Truman Wheeler House will be
our future Headquarters and Museum.  In November we were told by the town
that because we purchased the property after July 1 (the town's fiscal year
date) that we would have to pay the full years' taxes (over $7,000).  We
applied for an abatement with the Board of Assessors, but they claim that
state law is clear - we must pay the taxes because we purchased the property
after July 1. They said there is no discretion in the law. Next year we will
be OK. Our new lawyer suggested that we NOT spend the money to appeal.  Does
this gel with what others have experienced?  And if so, what difference does
it make when a town's fiscal year starts?  Abatements are given when cars
are bought and sold. I don't see what difference it makes when we bought
they house.especially since we are a non-profit. Is there logic to this law
that I am not seeing?  We really had to scramble to pay this bill.and it was
upsetting to be treated this way by the town. Thank you for your thoughts.




Gary Leveille, Vice-President

Great Barrington Historical Society

garyleve at verizon.net



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