Tax officials sue over exemptions for Macon, Ga., church

Friday, November 29, 2013

MACON, Ga. - Local tax assessors want a court to force a Macon church to pay more property taxes.

The Macon Telegraph reports that the Macon-Bibb County Board of Tax Assessors has filed two lawsuits against Tremont Temple Missionary Baptist Church.

The assessors want to reverse decisions by another government body -- the Board of Equalization -- to continue giving the church tax exemptions for property not currently in use.

One of the properties in question has been for sale for seven years and vacant for most of that time. The church wants to sell the building to a private developer.

The church is claiming property tax exemptions usually granted to religious organizations. The assessors say that exemption shouldn't apply to parcels or structures that aren't being used for religious activity.