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Non-Profit Taxes
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 More New Hampshire communities are eyeing the not-for-profit sector, charities, hospitals, and an artist colony, as potential contributors for tax dollars. Traditionally, non-profit groups have been considered public goods and therefore exempt from the tax-man, but that attitude could be changing. Today we examine this taxing debate over non-profits. Laura’s guests are Brad Cook, attorney at Sheehan Phinney Bass and Green, and Maura Carroll, legal counsel for the Local Government Center.
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I want to credit the Exchange for its coverage of this important topic. I am on the Board of the MacDowell Colony in Peterborough, and I've come to realize that the challenge issued by the town of Peterborough to its charitable organizations to "pay their fair share" is occuring all over the state.
When a town administration approaches a charity and asks for a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) the negotiations that follow are essentially a back-room deal. Since each is negotiated separately, there is no way that PILOTs can be made equitable. And they're not transparent to the public. In Peterborough, even the town offices cannot correctly answer the question of what charities are paying PILOTS in what amounts. And when you consider the fact that non-profits are not exactly a good source of revenue (duh!) PILOTs add up to bad government.
I hope discussions like this one will shed light on what is going on around the state.