Sticker Shock
Masonic Lodge Seeks Restoration Of Tax-Exempt Status
The Union Lodge Masonic Organization is asking the Bristol Select Board to reinstate its tax-exempt status, citing its charitable contributions as well as its policy of allowing the community and the municipal government to use its parking lot at no charge and making the building available to the public.
Ryan Alfonso, representing the four organizations that make up ULMO — Union Lodge No. 79, Sawhegenit Chapter-Order of Eastern Star, the Odd Fellows’ Cardigan Lodge No. 30, and Enterprise Rebecca Lodge No. 46 — said they were shocked to receive a $9,079 tax bill from the town, due February 4. As a 501(c)2 nonprofit organization that has a close relationship with the town, Alfonso said the property tax bill took them by surprise.
“We were able to scrape that money together and pay it; however, it created a significant financial hardship on all four organizations, because, as I stated, it’s all volunteer, and every dime that comes in goes straight to bills or straight back to the community,” he said. “So that was a very significant financial hit on all of us.”
In addition to regaining the organization’s tax exemption, Alfonso said he hoped the board would refund the tax collected.
RSA 72:23, V allows a charitable exemption for “The buildings, lands and personal property of charitable organizations and societies organized, incorporated, or legally doing business in this state, owned, used and occupied by them directly for the purposes for which they are established, provided that none of the income or profits thereof is used for any other purpose than the purpose for which they are established.” The statute requires every charitable organization to file BTLA form A-12 to receive that exemption.