Governments could increase revenue by taxing religious institutions
I’d like to suggest a way local governments could increase their revenues in these dark economic times. This suggestion would also do away with our country’s false notion of the separation of church and state.
Churches, synagogues and temples — in fact, all faith-based, religious initiatives — should be billed for their use of police and fire protection services.
As it stands now, a tax-exempt church or other place of worship that has need of these services receives them gratis. That puts the local government in the business of subsidizing these places of worship. My tax money going toward a place of worship does not meet the standard of separation of church and state.
True separation of church and state can only be achieved by billing these places of worship for use of these tax-supported services. That also means billing them for the `security’ of having the services only a phone call away. There’s a dollar worth to that too.
It’s time the churches, synagogues and temples quit getting a free ride from the tax-challenged public.
EJ Rotert
Pacific
Mr. Rotert,
You realize, of course, you’ll be going to Hell for this letter.
E. J. Rotert,
Couldn’t they just rely on the Private Sector for their police and fire protection? Aren’t there charities for this sort of thing? Right now they use the ‘public option’.
Another question:
Does the pastor have to pay personal property tax on his E-Class?
Roturd’s and Jello-brain’s mommies should have taken them to Sunday School more often.
EJ;
Shame on you. By taxing the churches and other places of worship then you MUST be advocating taxing ALL tax-exempt organizations. Shame on you for taxing the poor. What are you, some sort of TAX AND SPEND liberal?
I have heard of stupid things in my over half century of living. This ranks right up there.
I am pretty sure that the free services and charity work in helping the poor and down-on-their luck people more than offsets the taxes these churches would pay for fire and police services. In may cases they could be considers crime prevention, which save tax payer dollars.
You generally don’t see the swat team wasting tax payers dollars bearing down on 85 year old bingo fanatics because someone moved a troll doll and started a riot.
You allow hundreds of thousands of freeloaders that pay no such taxes to get a free pass, but you want to make up the different by taxing a few hundred churches? Stupid idea, EJ. STOOOOPIIIDDDDD.
rt”Bull”… If you would actually read what I wrote, I said nothing about `taxing’ religious organizations. I’m arguing for `billing’ religious organizations — as a homeowner, say, would be billed for trash removal or water usage. Why shouldn’t churches pay for all the local government services they use? If they don’t, then — in effect — public tax money is winding up in these churches’ donation baskets; this is government subsidization, something that’s prohibited by the U.S. Constitution. I didn’t address other tax-exempt organizations because I’m addressing the issue of separation of church and state, not the separation of Feeding America and state.
22twain… Once again: I said nothing about taxing churches, synagogues or temples. I didn’t write the headline.
So charity work can get you a tax-exempt status?
Great. The IBEW members in St. Louis have contributed over 30,000 manhours towards “Rebuild St. Louis,” “Habitat for Humanity,” and “Lights Out” which installs porch lights and electrical repairs to low income neiborhoods without cost. IBEW contractors provide over $50,000 in materials every year. We’ve also helped many churches in St. Louis with their electrical needs, including lights and scoreboards for ball fields.. We have a voluntary fund to help the homeless, and raise money for “Coat-Up” (last year we provided 6,000 coats to needy children)….Every year we provide and serve Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners at several shelters throughout St. Louis.
Where do I sign-up for this tax-exemption Twain?
EJ;
So sorry, please exchange the word “billing” for “taxing” in my post.
Also, 22twain… I mentioned about having the `security’ of these services available, if needed. The churches should buck up for this. And believe me, the police are called to churches and/or their parochial schools on occasion. Do you really believe criminals actually see these areas as crime-free zones?