Prevo Responds to the Anchorage Daily News
The Anchorage Baptist Temple is not against paying property taxes. ABT pays more than $45,000 a year in taxes on approximately 14 pieces of property.
With legal counsel ABT has requested tax exemptions on properties that qualify.
Because of an inquiry by the Anchorage Daily News, the Anchorage Baptist Temple hired two law firms and asked them to look at its’ tax exempt properties. Both attorneys were asked to determine if ABT had improperly asked for tax exemptions and if so how to make it right. If there was a problem, I wanted to clear it up before the Daily News made it an issue.
Both law firms advised ABT they believed the church was in compliance with the law. The Daily News quotes one attorney saying ABT is in compliance and attached is a letter from the other law firm's attorney saying he believes we are in compliance. Of course the final decision will be made by the city’s tax assessor. ABT has been cooperating with that office’s inquiries.
ABT believes it has properly requested tax exemptions based on legal counsel. It seems this issue comes up about every time "special rights" for homosexuals comes up in our city which is coming up in April. If passed, these "special rights" for homosexuals will take away the rights of
religious groups, churches, organizations, businesses, religious people, and individuals.
I have opposed "special rights" for what the Bible calls immoral behavior since the 70's. It seems these recent accusations are again a move to diminish my opposition to these "special rights".
ABT feels they are fortunate in that the city’s tax assessors’ office will be looking for the facts rather than fodder to write a newspaper story and if the church has been mistaken, we look forward to correcting any discrepancies.
Pastor Jerry Prevo
