Nonprofit Groups Hit With New Fees

Revenue-hungry states and cities are imposing new fees on local nonprofits, charging them for use of street lights and fire-safety inspections, among other services, in a reversal of policy toward tax-exempt community aid organizations, The Wall Street Journal reports. Some cities are even levying property taxes on churches for buildings not used for worship.

“Governments are taking their public burdens and putting them on the backs of nonprofits, at a time when the demand for our services is skyrocketing,” said Tim Delaney, chief executive of the National Council of Nonprofits.

In Houston, some nonprofits are vowing to overturn a citywide November ballot initiative that levied a "drainage fee" on all property owners including churches, schools, and charities.

“We’ll defeat this,” said David Welch of the Houston Area Pastor’s Council. “This is really a tax.”