Small charities keep their tax exempt status
The Internal Revenue Service announced today that thousands of small charities that were in danger of losing their tax-exempt status are getting a reprieve. This is very good news for the nonprofit organizations, excluding churches, that, for some reason, forgot to file tax returns for the last three years, as required by a 2006 law. They were previously required to file returns by a May deadline in order to keep their tax-exempt status, which would have meant that donations given to these charities are not tax-deductible. The IRS, recognizing the importance of these charities, has now given them an Oct. 15 deadline to file. So to all those operational charities that are on the list, available at www.irs.gov: You've been given a second chance; don't blow it this time. It may be an added step to your business routine, but so worth it.
Still some cows?
There are certain smells that Crookston residents are familiar with, such as when the wind direction and the right time of year add up to that “sweet smell of success” emanating from the American Crystal Sugar plant. Another “certain” odor could be counted on from the north end of town now and then as well, the University of Minnesota, Crookston’s dairy barns. But, as part of the university’s budget reduction process, the entire dairy herd was auctioned off last week. It’s really too bad; UMC without cows seems downright bizarre. Campus officials are hoping to convince the powers-that-be at the main campus to let UMC have a small dairy herd and maybe grow its sheep numbers as well. It seems like a long shot, but here’s hoping some livestock is restored.
City officials need to focus on city taxes
There’s nothing wrong with looking at the big picture. So, in the current discussion among Crookston City Council members about potentially raising the tax levy in 2011 – after six years of no hikes and even some decreases – it’s been mentioned that taxes in the school district might go up if voters approve the operating levy referendum in November. It’s true that, if approved, the operating levy would alter the local tax picture for property owners. But city council members and officials should be concerned first and foremost about the city’s tax picture and only the city’s tax picture. The city has worked hard to keep taxes in line, and a small hike in 2011 doesn’t seem like a big deal. Let school district voters decide in November what they think of their school taxes.
