Some Non-Profits in Benton Co. Have to Pay Property Taxes for the First Time

A change in Benton County assessing practices hits some non-profit organizations hard. Benton County assessor Shirley Sandlin says too many non-profits have been receiving a tax exempt status when they shouldn`t be. Under Arkansas law, tax exempt is only property used for purely charitable purposes or its publicly owned. Sandlin sent out questionaires to see how property was actually used. She determined over 100 properties exempt in the past would now have to pay. Shirley Sandlin, Benton Co. Assessor: "This is just one of the areas we`re trying to clean up our act, if you will, and do a better job for each of our counties and the state." Masonic lodge #7 in Siloam Springs is one of those organization that has to pay. Members say their dues just cover utilities, not the $3,200 they now owe in property taxes. Don Martin, lodge #7 member: "Sure its going to hurt. Its going to take away from the charitable work we try to do. We`re not a charitable organization but we give to charities." The Masons say the money they donate to the hearing impaired will suffer. And they may have to sell their building. However, they feel they never had enough time to properly fill out the assessors questionaire before they received a rejection letter. They plan on filing a lawsuit.