Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Tax Exemption topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council adopts emergency declaration to protect Catholic parish properties from unintended transfer and recordation taxes
Summary
The Council unanimously adopted an emergency declaration and underlying bill to prevent accrual of transfer and recordation taxes when parish properties undergo confirmatory deeds; sponsors said historic title practices placed certain titles in the Archbishop's name and the emergency measure avoids unwarranted tax liabilities while retitling proceeds.
The Council moved and adopted an emergency declaration and underlying bill (Bill 20 six-six 12) to preserve exemptions for Catholic parish properties seeking to record supplementary confirmatory deeds. Chair Phil Mendelson explained that many parish properties historically held record title in the name of the Archbishop of Washington, even though individual parishes are the equitable owners, and that modern nonprofit incorporation has prompted efforts to retitle properties.
Mendelson said the emergency measure prevents the accrual of unwarranted transfer and recordation taxes while parishes undertake retitling and avoids costly administrative actions. The declaration and underlying bill were adopted unanimously without amendment.
