Fired-up activists flooded the City Council yesterday demanding tax-exempt nonprofit institutions pay their “fair share” under the city’s payment in lieu of taxes program.
The PILOT Action Group says their new report shows that the 49 largest institutions in the city have failed to pay over $77 million in promised payments under the PILOT program. The report states that in fiscal 2018, only 26 percent have paid the promised amount.
Enid Eckstein, who co-authored the report, said these are all institutions that can afford to pay.
“We believe very much that these institutions have a responsibility in our city,” Eckstein said. “We believe the PILOT program was a start when it was established seven years ago to look at what is the responsibility of these institutions to our city.”
Councilor-At-Large Anissa Essaibi George told the Herald the issue is a “fairly significant challenge that the city is facing.”