I periodically (actually, just recently) raise the issue of PILOTs (payments in lieu of taxes). PILOTS are typically paid by Universities and Hospitals who have humongous tracts of lands and buildings that are not on the municipal tax roll because, well, they are tax exempt. Meanwhile, municipalities everywhere are turning over every rock they can to find new sources of revenue and clearly if a tax exempt organization is using its property in a non-tax exempt way or could pay a PILOT, then action will be taken. Or so you would think.
But the New York Post story suggests that maybe all that appears tax exempt is not. Amusing perhaps but not really good for the true tax exempts. And maybe this is a good time to remind nonprofit boards that if there was ever an occasion to be letting the community know about your outcomes and the contributions and impact you have on the community, this is it.