We’ve compiled the data
BAR HARBOR—Budget season always seems to spur conversations about nonprofits and the potential property taxes that they do not pay. Nonprofits have the legal option not to pay property taxes unless the property is used for certain purposes. It is not an automatic process and applications must be completed to gain the exempt status. Here is the State of Maine statute regarding the property of institutions and organizations that is exempt from taxation.
According to Town Assessor Steve Weed, the total taxable real estate value in 2022 for the Town of Bar Harbor was $2,119,689,500. Adding in the tax-exempt properties, that value goes up to $3,179,640,200. That means the Town of Bar Harbor has approximately $1,059,590,700 of property value that is claimed as tax exempt.
The Bar Harbor Story has compiled a list of all of the exempt properties and associated property taxes in the Town of Bar Harbor from the town’s exempt property owners list. With the exception of the Mount Desert YMCA and Kids’ Corner, the only properties not listed are those actually owned by the town.
These numbers are calculated from the 2023 tax year and are subject to change every year due to improvements, new property purchases, or sales of property. There are no forensic accountants employed by the Bar Harbor Story, and while there may be a few small errors in calculation, the numbers are for the most part accurate.
Some property taxes for properties owned by nonprofits are paid. The Bar Harbor Story did not try to distinguish whether some nonprofit property taxes are paid because those properties fall outside of exempt categories or for other reasons, deeming it not relevant to this article.
Each property is listed by the name of the nonprofit, followed by the total property taxes based on the value of properties owned by that entity, the property taxes paid by that entity (may be multiple properties), any payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) voluntarily paid to the town by that entity, and the unpaid tax value after subtracting taxes paid and PILOTs from the original value.
The Maine Association of Nonprofits says about nonprofits, “Scratch the surface of why people love Maine and you’ll find a strong network of nonprofit organizations delivering on their mission. Every day, Mainers rely on nonprofits to nurture our spirits, protect our environment, inform our government, educate our children, and drive our economy—all while also investing significant financial and human resources throughout the state. They are integral to every facet of our communities.”
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK
$6,750,328.70 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 42,454.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$6,707,874.70 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
JACKSON LABORATORY
$603,704.87 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 74,293.45 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$112,409.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$417,002.42 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
MOUNT DESERT ISLAND HOSPITAL
$392,273.20 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 12,857.87 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$379,415.33 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
COLLEGE OF THE ATLANTIC
$375,132.81 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 53,316.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 8,500.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
_______________
$313,316.81 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
MAINE COAST HERITAGE TRUST
$135,776.57 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 1,674.81 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 6,325.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$127,776.76 REMAINING POTENTIAL TAXES
MDI REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
$169,114.20 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$169,114.20 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
BAR HARBOR HOUSING AUTHORITY
$132,917.18 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 34,790.35 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
________________
$ 98,126.83 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
MDI BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY
$132,917.18 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 10,000.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
________________
$ 122,917.18 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
BAR HARBOR HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$59,680.62 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$59,680.62 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
NATURE CONSERVANCY OF MAINE
$64,020.02 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 6,882.82 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$57,137.20 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
ABBE MUSEUM
$36,517.62 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWNB
______________
$36,517.62 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
ST. SAVIOURS CHURCH
$34,044.12 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 1,000.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$33,044.12 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
$32,738.37 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 3,745.71 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$28,992.66 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF BAR HARBOR
$30,276.95 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 5,350.61 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$24,926.34 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
JESUP MEMORIAL LIBRARY
$22,174.15 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$22,174.15 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
FRANKLIN H. EPSTEIN
$21,504.04 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$21,504.04 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
YWCA OF MOUNT DESERT ISLAND
$17,485.25 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 3,062.25 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$14,423.00 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
DOWNEAST HORIZONS
$13,853.25 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$13,853.25 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF BAR HARBOR
$18,528.16 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 6,647.02 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$11,881.14 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
WEST EDEN VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY
$11,088.01 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$11,088.01 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
CHURCH OF OUR FATHER
$10,949.14 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$10,949.14 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
BAR HARBOR VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION
$ 9,840.99 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
_______________
$ 9,840.99 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
AMERICAN LEGION POST
$9,379.65 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$9,379.65 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
OCEANARIUM AND EDUCATION CENTER
$8,957.45 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$8,957.45 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
BAR HARBOR CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
$8,806.47 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$8,806.47 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
BAPTIST CHURCH OF SALISBURY COVE
$8,617.27 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$8,617.27 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
STATE OF MAINE
$8,599.56 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$8,599.56 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
PENTECOSTAL LIGHTHOUSE CHURCH
$6,404.70 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$6,404.70 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$ 00.00 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
WILLOWIND THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER
$6,199.66 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$6,199.66 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
BAR HARBOR YACHT CLUB
$6,099.94 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$6,099.94 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
DOWNEAST AUDUBON CHAPTER
$5,667.49 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$5,667.49 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
EDEN BAPTIST CHURCH
$5,505.32 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$5,505.32 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
BEATRIX FARRAND SOCIETY
$4,836.15 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$4,836.15 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
HULLS COVE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
$4,078.43 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$4,078.43 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
KNOX DISTRICT HOUSING
$3,476.36 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$3,476.36 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
ISLAND HOUSING TRUST
$13,718.11 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$13,718.11 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
BIRCH BAY RETIREMENT VILLAGE
$2,115.64 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$2,115.64 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
LEDGELAWN CEMETERY ASSOCIATION
$2,027.10 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$2,027.10 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
MOUNTAIN VIEW CEMETERY
$1,687.85 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$1,687.85 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
ARTWAVES
$4,872.50 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$3,317.92 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$1,554.58 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
HADLEY POINT CEMETERY ASSOCIATION
$1,339.28 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$1,339.28 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE
$868.62 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$868.62 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
TOTAL REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES WITHOUT ACADIA NATIONAL PARK
$2,087,216.74
TOTAL REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES WITH ACADIA NATIONAL PARK (ACADIA NATIONAL PARK INCLUDES PROPERTIES OWNED BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. SOME OF THOSE PROPERTIES ARE NOT PART OF THE PARK, SUCH AS THE POST OFFICE ON COTTAGE STREET)
$8,795,091.44
The Mount Desert YMCA and Kids’ Corner are both nonprofits that exist on land owned by the Town of Bar Harbor, therefore, they have no property tax burden. Kids’ Corner leases the land and building from the town for an annually escalating amount set in a 15-year lease signed April 4, 2017. According to the lease, the amount for 2022 was $7,800. The YMCA financed the construction of the building that it occupies and pays an annual amount of $1 set in a 99-year lease that was signed October 18, 1994.
TAX VALUE OF THE YMCA PARCEL (INCLUDING YMCA-OWNED BUIDLING) ON PARK STREET
$75,334.49
TAX VALUE OF THE KIDS’ CORNER PARCEL (INCLUDING TOWN-OWNED BUILDING) AT THE CORNER OF EDEN STREET AND MOUNT DESERT STREET
$7,737.46
A note about the Island Housing Trust properties: All of the exempt properties listed for the organization are part of the new Jones Marsh community. As the housing units are sold or leased, those parcels will lose their exempt status and be placed back on the paid tax roll.
Here’s a link to learn more about what is a nonprofit.
Here’s a bit more about payments in lieu of taxes, which are voluntary payments. A town cannot require them. The federal government program is here.
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