Pittsburgh’s challenges of tax-exempt status unlikely to be successful, experts say. When Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey recently announced the city would challenge the tax exempt status of more than 100 parcels of land, it was branded as a way to get the largest local nonprofit organizations to “pay their fair share.”
But actually getting those properties back on the city tax rolls will likely be an uphill battle.
Last month, Mr. Gainey’s administration submitted 104 parcels of land to Allegheny County to challenge their tax exempt status — focusing on properties that the city believes are owned by companies that aren’t purely public charities, or are being used in a way that isn’t in line with the charitable goals of the organization.
“It’s like David and Goliath to some extent,” said Jack Owen, a Pittsburgh-based attorney who specializes in business and tax law. “They’re really going up against UPMC and [Allegheny Health Network] and these people will have teams of lawyers that know what they’re doing.” >>READ MORE
