AUGUSTA, Maine - The Legislature's Taxation Committee has rejected a bill that would block land trusts and similar non-profit organizations from receiving a property tax exemption on land they own.
Jim Pross, president of the Androscoggin Land Trust, testified against the proposal.
"This bill is seeking to overturn a court decision that the governor's office, proponents of this bill, didn't like," he says. "It does so by singling out land trusts and saying regardless of what you are doing as a land trust, your work is not benevolent and charitable."
Supporters argue that some land trusts are really major businesses, even though they are non-profits, and should be helping to pay for municipal services like fire and police protection. But some committee members noted that some land trusts do pay property taxes or make voluntary payments to towns.
