Is it fair that the Lakewood Church pays NO property taxes? (Houston: 2013, homes)

[lipbalm]

Originally Posted by PedroMartinez

If you taxed all religious based organizations, you might destroy Star Of Hope Mission.

But, maybe you're ok with that.

I ok with everyone feeling a little pain come tax time. That way maybe it would be harder to support tax increases.

[tampac66]

Originally Posted by lipbalm

I ok with everyone feeling a little pain come tax time. That way maybe it would be harder to support tax increases.

So we should increase taxes so that it would be more difficult to support tax increases?

[CDeb]

If you are of the opinion that churches are too involved in politics, taxing them is probably the last thing you want to do.

Just wait and see how involved they are when you put more of their skin in the game.

[PedroMartinez]

Originally Posted by CDeb

If you are of the opinion that churches are too involved in politics, taxing them is probably the last thing you want to do.

Just wait and see how involved they are when you put more of their skin in the game.

That is a really good point.

If you start taxing churches, the message will really change come election season.

That right there might be worth the trade-off, lol.

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by CDeb

If you are of the opinion that churches are too involved in politics, taxing them is probably the last thing you want to do.

Just wait and see how involved they are when you put more of their skin in the game.

False,
because the churches that are too involved in politics are the ones that have lots of money
I don't have any issue with small churches pushing their agenda which 99% of the time actually benefit people
I have an issue with people like Pat Robertson pushing foreign policy agendas.

[Augiec]

Going back to the Osteen River Oaks house. According to the swamplot article, he'll be paying $260K in property taxes this year. I think that's reasonable.

"The Tanglewood house is owned by Joel and Victoria Osteen according to Harris County Appraisal District records. The River Oaks home is technically owned by the Covenant Trust, which means the Osteens do not qualify for a homestead exemption on it. They will pay around $260,000 in property taxes on the new home this year."

[PedroMartinez]

Originally Posted by Dopo

False,
because the churches that are too involved in politics are the ones that have lots of money
I don't have any issue with small churches pushing their agenda which 99% of the time actually benefit people
I have an issue with people like Pat Robertson pushing foreign policy agendas.

And if they don't have to worry about losing their tax exempt status, they can go crazy telling their followers how to vote.

[tampac66]

Originally Posted by Augiec

Going back to the Osteen River Oaks house. According to the swamplot article, he'll be paying $260K in property taxes this year. I think that's reasonable.

"The Tanglewood house is owned by Joel and Victoria Osteen according to Harris County Appraisal District records. The River Oaks home is technically owned by the Covenant Trust, which means the Osteens do not qualify for a homestead exemption on it. They will pay around $260,000 in property taxes on the new home this year."

I think the fact that he was at one point drawing a 200k/year salary from the church is the problem. Any organization that can afford to pay someone that amount of money should be paying taxes.


It's not just him either... it's all religious organizations and non-profits. If they can't afford to pay taxes and continue to operate then so be it. That's how capitalism works. It's natural selection for businesses.

[PedroMartinez]

Originally Posted by tampac66

I think the fact that he was at one point drawing a 200k/year salary from the church is the problem. Any organization that can afford to pay someone that amount of money should be paying taxes.


It's not just him either... it's all religious organizations and non-profits. If they can't afford to pay taxes and continue to operate then so be it. That's how capitalism works. It's natural selection for businesses.

Are you claiming that when Olsteen was being paid a $200k salary that he wasn't paying taxes on it?

[tampac66]

Originally Posted by PedroMartinez

Are you claiming that when Olsteen was being paid a $200k salary that he wasn't paying taxes on it?

No. He was being paid his 200k from a tax-exempt organization though.