Inquiring minds want to know WHICH BRANCH of the Mormon church is buying up all that land. Is it the polygamists or...?
Somehow, I suspect that it might make a huge difference in how you'll feel about it if the polygamists relocate to western Nebraska and start abusing young women on that land and abandoning/driving out their sons to become burdens on the local communities, or (heaven forbid!) if the child sex traffickers in the regular Mormon church--don't get me started on this, I was very appalled to learn about this--start using that land as part of their trafficking operation.
Freedom of religion is a good thing until it's used as an excuse to abuse. 'Nuff said.
But the Mormon church is just one of the entities taking advantage of the way real estate tax exemptions are set up in this state. So is Bill Gates. So is China. The people getting the pointy end of the real estate tax stick are hardworking Nebraskans.
I would be in favor of getting rid of all real estate tax exemptions for religious organizations and NGOs that do not directly apply to plots of land on which are sited:
1. churches and associated infrastructure
2. school/college campuses and associated infrastructure
3. hospitals or clinics that cater to the poor
4. nursing homes, orphanages, group homes, and homeless shelters or
5. other buildings or structures housing clearly defined charitable endeavors that are supported by donations and volunteering, and do not make money (and if audited, are proven NOT to turn a profit).
I would be in favor of banning foreign countries from owning any amount of farm land in Nebraska, and limiting the total amount of acreage any one absentee landowner can own in Nebraska to less than half of the total acreage of the smallest county in Nebraska. If they actually live in Nebraska, they can own as much land as they're capable of turning a profit on and keeping up with the taxes.
And--I would also be in favor of writing a real estate tax exemption or greatly reduced real estate tax rate into state law for small farmer-owned farms under 20 acres, and exempting all legal residents of Nebraska over the age of 65 from having to pay any real estate taxes on their homes as long it's their primary residence where they spend 6 months or more yearly.
Inquiring minds want to know WHICH BRANCH of the Mormon church is buying up all that land. Is it the polygamists or...?
Somehow, I suspect that it might make a huge difference in how you'll feel about it if the polygamists relocate to western Nebraska and start abusing young women on that land and abandoning/driving out their sons to become burdens on the local communities, or (heaven forbid!) if the child sex traffickers in the regular Mormon church--don't get me started on this, I was very appalled to learn about this--start using that land as part of their trafficking operation.
Freedom of religion is a good thing until it's used as an excuse to abuse. 'Nuff said.
But the Mormon church is just one of the entities taking advantage of the way real estate tax exemptions are set up in this state. So is Bill Gates. So is China. The people getting the pointy end of the real estate tax stick are hardworking Nebraskans.
I would be in favor of getting rid of all real estate tax exemptions for religious organizations and NGOs that do not directly apply to plots of land on which are sited:
1. churches and associated infrastructure
2. school/college campuses and associated infrastructure
3. hospitals or clinics that cater to the poor
4. nursing homes, orphanages, group homes, and homeless shelters or
5. other buildings or structures housing clearly defined charitable endeavors that are supported by donations and volunteering, and do not make money (and if audited, are proven NOT to turn a profit).
I would be in favor of banning foreign countries from owning any amount of farm land in Nebraska, and limiting the total amount of acreage any one absentee landowner can own in Nebraska to less than half of the total acreage of the smallest county in Nebraska. If they actually live in Nebraska, they can own as much land as they're capable of turning a profit on and keeping up with the taxes.
And--I would also be in favor of writing a real estate tax exemption or greatly reduced real estate tax rate into state law for small farmer-owned farms under 20 acres, and exempting all legal residents of Nebraska over the age of 65 from having to pay any real estate taxes on their homes as long it's their primary residence where they spend 6 months or more yearly.