Citing ‘continued personal attacks,? Orion Township Assessor John Attwell and Supervisor Jerry Dywasuk spoke out about the GCC for the first time since the April 6 Michigan Tax Tribunal decision.
Looking to clarify some misconceptions, Attwell talked about the timeline for the entire procedure.
‘In 1998, I granted them an exemption, but said I’d come back and re-examine,? he said. ‘I was somewhat remiss for waiting five or six years to do that.?
In Nov. of 2003, Attwell said he sent correspondence to the GCC but never heard a response.
The building and land was put back on the tax books in 2004, and the Board of Review ultimately agreed with that decision, after a March 2004 hearing.
The case then went to the tribunal, and a hearing was held in early Jan. under Judge Jack VanCoevering.
In their conclusion, the tribunal stated that while the GCC ‘does conduct laudable charitable activities such as Freedom Works, the primary purpose of the organization is to benefit its members and maintain a building for their use, and as such, the organization is not charitable and does not qualify for an exemption…?
The decision left the GCC owing property taxes from 2004 to date.
‘While Petitioner is willing to provide the use of the property to the general public, it is only willing to do so for a price, and that price is substantially higher than the price it charges its own members,? the tribunal also said.
The issue of ‘membership? appears to be one of the key factors in the tribunal’s decision.
Attwell said that if the GCC was able to restructure they could be reconsidered down the road.
‘Perhaps the GCC could change their mode of operation and it would put them back on exemption,? he said.
Attwell added that the decision would have to be made by the center itself.
‘Most people don’t know the money the GCC is taking in,? he said, citing that the 2004 figure was in the neighborhood of $230,000.
Clearing up the role of the Board of Review is also something Attwell and Dywasuk hope to do.
‘The township board has no legal authority over the Board of Review, other than appointing them,? said Dywasuk.
‘It’s a tough job to do and there’s no glory in it whatsoever,? Attwell said ‘They’ve done it for many years, and I think they’re highly qualified.?
Both Dywasuk and Attwell said they do not offer advice to the Board of Review.
‘I remove myself from any type of implications,? Attwell said. ‘I don’t sit down in those meetings.?
Attwell also hoped to clear up the misconception regarding tax exemptions.
‘We’re nothing but a creation of the state,? he said, noting that the 501(c)3 status of the GCC is an exemption of only Federal income tax.
‘It has nothing to do with state property tax,? he said.
Most of the tax owed by the GCC will actually go to the school system, with only about $400 trickling down to the township’s general fund.
‘We’re not looking for more tax revenue,? Dywasuk said of the township.
‘We just want to treat everyone fairly and equally.?
Attwell cited that other organizations, such as the Knights of Columbus and the Lions Club are treated the same way.
Both men said they had hoped the issue would not need to reach this level, but felt they had to respond to things being said by GCC members and the public.
‘I applaud the township for not stooping down to that level,? Attwell said. ‘We’ve all wanted to respond, but we’ve tried to remain above that. The township wasn’t wrong and the Board of Review wasn’t wrong, and the tribunal proved that.?