Buddhist Group Denied Tax Exemption For Vacant Property

Upstate New York’s Times Herald-Record reports that in Shawangunk, NY, a town of 12,000, a state trial court judge has ruled against a Buddhist group in its controversial application for a tax exemption for 42 acres of property which it bought. The World Buddhist Ch'an Jing Center bought up the land with no particular plans for it. Judge Michael Lynch ruled that the land was not being used for religious purposes as is required to obtain a property tax exemption. The town’s Assessor, Curt Schoeberl, lashed out at the group for its attempt to deprive the town of some $32,000 in tax revenue. He said: "The people that run these organizations have no consciences. They don't understand what they do to the community when they take these large parcels off the tax rolls. The services are still being required. ... It just keeps getting worse and worse. The laws have to be changed."