WSJ: Why Shouldn't Princeton Pay Taxes?

[bluebayou]

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There is a marked difference, in my mind between a charitable organization and a non-profit organization. A good charity, IMO, returns the large majority of its revenue and endowment earnings <em>directly</em> to the community it serves,

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<p>Then you need to take it up with Congress, since the law only says that non-profits need to spend an average 5% of their endowment annually. And Congress makes no distinction about the “community it serves” unless that is part of its mission statement.</p>

<p>btw: “non-profit” does not mean no profit. :)</p>

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n Boston (and I think in most places) fares paid for bus/subway lines does not come close to paying the full cost; the MBTA assesses all the member towns some amount based on population and the level of services - for Boston it is large.

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<p>I was hoping someone would go there: absent all of those marginal student riders, the average cost per ride would increase, which would increase the loss to the public.</p>

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The colleges don’t pay for the roads leading to and from the schools, or to plow and maintain them. </p>

<p>The non-profits’ employees’ children are educated in the local public schools, which are funded primarily by property taxes in MA.

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<p>Yup, and all those employees who live in the 'hood pay rent to landlords or own their own homes, both of which already pay property tax.</p>