Lake Bluff church tax case gets state's attorney's help

Financial investigators with the Lake County state's attorney's office plan to assist the Village of Lake Bluff in its appeal of a property-tax exemption the state granted last month to a resident who contends ...

[Todd]

I my best Nelson from the Simpson's voice, while pointing my finger at Waller, I say "HA HA"

[moquif]

I hope this thief gets the max time. Not only is he stealing from the county which provide vital services, he's stealing from his neighbors who have to make up the difference.

[Larry]

Hallelujah !!!!!!!!!!

[Carroll from Woodrige]

Whats next everyone in Lake Point Tower converting their condo's to churchs so they will be tax exempt too. Note to state of Illinois. Just because it looks like a duck and quacks like duck does not mean it is a duck. Duh

[Just the average Joe]

This is just the type of stuff we can expect when tax bills gets this large. Who, in their right mind would be willing to pay 80K a year in property tax. That can send a kid to Harvard, easy. The local property tax bills have just gotten so large that people are willing to do most anything to avoid some pain. I built a very small house for this very purpose, as property tax, to some extent is voluntary. I can do without a large home, and the tax districts can work with less money. When we retire in about five years, goodbye Lake County.

[another viewpoint]

I would take the homeowner more seriously if his "ordination" wasn't from an online source. I did a search on the Church of Spiritual Humanism. Very interesting.

If the "church" occupies a portion of his house, why did he get an exemption for the entire house? I am glad that there is going to be more investigation of this.

[Anton LaVey]

Now if only the rest of the churches would have their exempt status revoked so they would also pay their share.

Thieves indeed!

[Honest Abe]

Isn't what this character did FRAUD??!!! Isn't he employing deception to defraud the the government of its properly levied property tax? It sounds like jail time would be the answer. Let's make an example of him.

[Janet]

Fascinating, he donated over 2000 dollars to McCain. I'm not surpised.

[Patrick]

You people are so jealous.He did not steal from you.The thing is-he is smarter then all of you losers.

[SickoftheMedia]

Hmmm, a case of someone following the law EXACTLY. Looks like the city is calling "no-fair" when someone uses their laws and it doesn't benefit them. Looks like the only "thieves" are the village board members. Seriously,$80k is property taxes???

[bible thumper]

How about we all just show up at his house on Sunday morning for services?

[coo coo for coco puffs]

how is this any different than religio huckster Jesse Jackson,.

[Cubs Girl]

Janet wrote:

Fascinating, he donated over 2000 dollars to McCain. I'm not surpised.

What? Where did it say that? What does that have to do with the fact that this guy doesn't want to pay his property taxes like everyone else?

[Honest Abe]

Patrick wrote:

You people are so jealous.He did not steal from you.The thing is-he is smarter then all of you losers.

It sounds like you don't work for a living.

[The Bloody Snowman]

SickoftheMedia. Thumbs up for your clarity of vision.

The Fourth Amendment and an individual's right to use his home as a parsonage or church and take advantage of the tax breaks that the federal government and individual state governments give to ALL churches regardless of denomination has been challenged by some real smart cookies before.

It always comes out the same. It does not matter what religious denomination is claiming this exemption or what kind of a building is being used.

This individual is legally protected by the government. The IRS has been chastised before for trying the same thing. No matter how it looks, this individual is in the right.

This is called Religious Freedom and it applies equally to the Catholic Church, The Episcopalian Church, The Methodist Church, The Lutheran Church, The Baptist Church and the Church of the sixty Eight Cross of Moses' Burning Bush on any street corner in any part of any town.

If anyone is guilty of cheating the taxpayers and stealing from the city of Lake Bluff, it is the City of Lake Bluff and the Lake County State's Attorney.

There is so much precedent law on this that it is ludicrous for them to put on this dog and pony show at taxpayer expense.

What a bunch of knuckleheads and sore losers.

[SWEET POLLY PUREBRED]

Question of the day - Is the Rev Jeremiah Wright's $2 million home going to be tax exempt? Is it going to show ownership by the church which would allow for exemption, or will it be in his name - a RETIRED pastor, making it a non-exempt property???

[kent]

If Other churches can get away with this nonsense then he can surely do it too. Otherwise, get rid of the exemption altogether.

[Judus]

Dam, I was just on my way over there to sign up. Good thing I read the news. I guess I'll have to find another one or start my own.

[Cyclone]

Wonderful double standard being applied here. Everyone else is just mad that he thought of it first.

Or, the "established" churches in the area are trying to squash his idea, because they're worried that people will begin to wonder why *any* church should be tax-exempt.