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Board denies Walk of Faith Ministries tax-exemption request after brief review
Summary
The Washington County Board of Supervisors voted to deny a property-tax exemption requested by Walk of Faith Ministries after staff said the building appeared used for a ministry that distributes goods but the assessor's office found no evidence of regular church services required for the exemption under state law.
The Washington County Board of Supervisors voted to deny tax-exempt status for a building associated with Walk of Faith Ministries after county staff reported there was insufficient evidence that the property was used for qualifying church activities.
Tax office staff told the board that the deed conveying the building into the ministry's name was recorded in December 2021 but that county records and an initial inquiry did not show regular church services or other activity that would meet the exemption standard. The board discussion cited Section 79-11-33 of the Mississippi code as the controlling authority for exemptions and noted that not all 501(c)(3) organizations or ministries automatically qualify for the exemption without evidence of eligible ecclesiastical use.
Following discussion, a motion to deny the exemption passed on a voice vote. Supervisors emphasized that the decision was based on the assessor's review and the need to follow state statute; the board also postponed related administrative follow-up while staff gathered documents and further information on services and actual building use.
Ending: The board approved denial of the exemption at the meeting and asked staff to continue examining documents and to report back; the denial does not prohibit the ministry from returning with additional documentation or a clarified record of use for future consideration.
