While average Texans struggle to pay property taxes, many ministers of the gospel are living in tax-free luxury thanks to a generous exemption in state law. That shifts the burden to others -- to you. See how in our “Unfair Burden” series.
houstonchronicle.com/news/investiga… #txlege
houstonchronicle.com/news/investiga… #txlege
Our investigation of tax-free clergy residences, a.k.a. “parsonages,” found a loophole allowing religious orgs to claim as many tax-free homes as they can fit ministers into. One church in tony Highland Park (Dallas) had 11 at the start of 2021. #txlege houstonchronicle.com/projects/2021/…
TX law says clergy residences can’t be exempted from taxes if they sit on more than 1 acre of land. So why are so many >1 acre parsonages getting approved? We found over 30 of them -- including clergy homes worth over $1m. We got pics! #txlege houstonchronicle.com/projects/2021/…
Chief appraisers around #Texas told us it’s too hard to fight religious orgs over property taxes. Even when our reporting uncovered clergy residences that violated the 1-acre limit, many let 'em slide. Said one: “It’s not a fight you want to pick.” #txlege houstonchronicle.com/news/investiga…
Heaven is the limit when it comes to the amt of $$ churches can shield from property taxes under the clergy residence exemption. In the latest installment of our Unfair Burden series, we found > 2 dozen worth over $1m. Ya gotta see to believe. #txlege houstonchronicle.com/projects/2021/…
Our reporting on tax-free clergy residences that violate a longstanding 1-acre limit has already had impact: over a dozen appraisal districts were moved to investigate or have begun the process of putting property back on the tax rolls #txlege houstonchronicle.com/news/investiga…
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