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New Hampshire Court Rules Against Pilgrim Pines
WESTON, MA (January 15, 2002) - An unfavorable ruling by the Supreme Court of New Hampshire means that the East Coast Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church and Pilgrim Pines Conference Center are liable for $220,000 in property taxes and possibly another $112,000 in interest.
The court ruling came in response to appeals by the conference and camp over the levying of property taxes from 1996 to 1999 by the Town of Swanzey in New Hampshire, where the camp is located.
Pilgrim Pines has filed a petition with the Superior Court concerning abatement of property taxes for years 2000 and 2001, according to Bob DeJong, the camp's executive director. Approximately $85,000 in donations has been received to date to help pay the property taxes that have been the subject of the dispute.
The conference also has pursued conversations with Town of Swanzey representatives in an attempt to negotiate a "responsible solution" to the property tax issue from the year 2000 forward, according to Joel Davidsen, conference board chair.
The town began taxing property and buildings on the site in November 1996 - no taxes had been levied since the camp opened in 1957. The Town of Swanzey has contended the conference center does not have a charitable purpose and should not fall under the category of church-run camps, which have been accorded property tax exempt status.
The conference argued that there is no legal ground for the town to tax the conference center. The East Coast Conference appealed to the state Supreme Court, seeking to reverse a 1999 lower court decision ordering payment of the taxes. The Supreme Court denied the first appeal last
July.
"At this point, we're just trying to get this behind us and negotiate a deal that fulfills what the courts have deemed due to the Town of Swanzey," DeJong said. "We're very encouraged by the support by conference churches and we know we have a hope and future. Our focus for ministry this year is from Jeremiah 29:11: 'For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future.' That's what we continue to cling to in the future - that as we are faithful, God will be faithful."
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