Should Illinois Golf Clubs Pay Real Estate Taxes?
As an Illinois Appellate Court contemplates whether private country clubs should pay property tax on their buildings, the legislature could negate the outcome of the case.
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Readers in Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, Deerfield and Highland Park had a strong reaction—both pro and con—to a case brought by the Onwentsia Club which will decide whether private clubs on open land like golf courses must pay real estate tax on their buildings.
With the case winding its way through the Illinois court system, Patch wants to know what its readers think.
It has already learned from people making comments to stories on the Highland Park, Deerfield and Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Patches they have passionate feelings. The poll beneath this story asks whether the legislature should act to change the law and remove it from the courts.
The issue is significant in all four communities because they have 10 private golf or country clubs between them. Should those clubs not be required to pay property tax on their buildings, the taxing authorities will collect that money from the rest of the taxpayers.
One reader, Marco Sangria, believes the open space provided by golf clubs is a benefit to the community. He notes they already pay sales tax on goods and services sold and the only revenue collected comes from the membership.
“What value is a club house, locker room and grille if there is no membership to use it?” Sangria writes. “I feel the open space that the clubs provide along with the maintenance of the grounds adds value to the community.”
Another reader, T.J. Wheeler, is already asking for legislative action. “This is ridiculous,” he writes. “Private country clubs should be charged for their property tax. This law needs to change (contact your state rep).”
Arthur Miller sees another value to private clubs keeping their exemption. If their burden to keep going becomes too severe, they could develop parts of their land and that could change the character of the community. He believes open land like golf courses are important.
“People are missing the point that Onwentsia is open space—like Lake Forest Open Lands,” Miller writes. “If it was broken up and Stonebridge-like maisonettes were built up and down the fairways we would need a whole new school for the new families. This is as well a landscape, architectural, and historic site of national significance.”
Reader Bill Clark wants the clubs to pay what he considers their fair share of taxes. “A private club is just that, private,” he writes. “It is a business entity, just like mine. I pay my property taxes on my building and land and so should they.” His suggestion to the resolve the burden. “Raise your dues.”
In addition to Onwentsia, the other clubs which could potentially receive a benefit are Shoreacres and Knollwood in Lake Bluff, Conway Farms in Lake Forest, Briarwood and Ravinia Green in Deerfield along with Old Elm, Exmoor, Bob O’Link and Northmoor in Highland Park.
William d Brown
9:07 am on Monday, February 4, 2013
They don't pay enough now!
And here we have the wealthy AGAIN wanting others to pay the way for their benefit.
If the members can't afford the dues
Which they ALL deduct as a business expense anyway.
The course would be a fine forest preserve in 20 years for all to enjoy
Trying to scare the tax payers with a bigger burden for schools is BS
NB
9:48 am on Monday, February 4, 2013
What open space? Do I, a non-member have the right to play on the private course fairways? May I eat in the restaurant, swim in the pools, shop in the "retail" shops? I don't think so. So it's not open space. Open space is a park. If my property taxes have to cover a private golf course in that community, then I should be able to be a member and use the facilities. Please, spare me the nonsense.
A concerned parent
1:29 pm on Monday, February 4, 2013
COMPLETELY agreed. Who's starting the petition on this one? I'll sign!
Gary
9:50 am on Monday, February 4, 2013
Get used to a lot of property tax fights. If the Democrats succeed in dumping their unions' pension burdens on the suburbs, then property taxes will have to sky-rocket, and we'll all be at each others throats, which is exactly what they want.
They have to get money from somewhere, and they just got through with a big income tax increase which didn't solve the problem. If they raise taxes again, then people and businesses will leave at an even greater rate, and take their money and business with them. They need to tax something you can't take with you... your land.
The problem is government making unsustainable pension promises to themselves. If we don't solve that problem, then Illinois becomes Detroit.
MS
2:00 pm on Monday, February 4, 2013
So true.
Rommy Lopat
10:12 am on Monday, February 4, 2013
I can't tell from the article exactly what the issue is. If the issue is whether a private club can get a "conservation easement" by which they forego taxes on their open space in exchange for giving up future development rights (the open space is deeded to Openlands or similar organization), then yes. Buildings may be a whole different issue: if Onwentsia is a not-for-profit, then they have some tax rights comin' to them too on the buildings, or so I would imagine....
TJ Wheeler
11:00 am on Monday, February 4, 2013
Let me put my comment one way. I have NO PROBLEM with the "open space" provisions currently in law right now. What I have a problem with are the buildings and facilities on the land that consider them to be classified as "open space".
We do not want these clubs (public or private) be to bulldozed and turned into future development. That will bring a whole host of problems. I like the size of our community right now, nor do we need multi-million dollar new developments with hundreds or over a thousand homes.
But this loophole that the country clubs who own all this land are now allowed to build clubhouses, temporary residences, banquet halls, and other improvements to this "open space" should be taxed fairly and proportionally on those buildings AND the land as if the land they are removing from "open space" would normally be taxed at.
Chris Antonson
8:54 pm on Monday, February 4, 2013
Golf courses are like environmental forest preserves. They give places for animals to live in a natural environment while their habitats are being torn down day in and day out from over development. Golf clubs deserve all the tax breaks in the world!
TJ Wheeler
8:59 pm on Monday, February 4, 2013
Chris ... then DON'T develop "private clubs" (of which most people are not members of) with clubhouses, dormitories, recreation rooms, guest houses and banquet halls. If they do develop those luxury items, then they should be taxed, right?
Frank Lopez
9:21 pm on Monday, February 4, 2013
If we are going to start taxing private clubs of all types, not just golf clubs, then it should be quite obvious that we should start taxing Churches, Temples, and Mosques as well. They raise money tax free and are politically active, so why not? So, in addition to the class warfare going on with this club issue, lets add some religious warfare as well and really get into the mix of things. At the end of the day, private clubs and places of worship should not be taxed. Our state and local government should find a way to stop wasting money and become fiscally responsible. Woops, we live in Illinois. How silly of me.
If private clubs are taxed, and with their current membership issues related to the economy, I would love to see one close and have 100s of new McMansions pop up. Then, people on here would be screaming! lol
David Greenberg
11:23 pm on Monday, February 4, 2013
This shouldn't be about "class warfare", it should be about paying an appropriate share of taxes. Property taxes go toward funding police/fire protection, water/sewage treatment, school districts, etc. At the very least, the courses should be taxed *something* for their grassy lands (I hesitate to call them undeveloped, because the trees, water hazards, sand traps, greens, fairways, and tees are anything but naturally occurring), and they should be fully taxed on the value of those real developments like club houses, garages, etc.
If they don't want to pay, then let's start by cutting off police/fire protection, and then move on to water/sewage service. I know of several rural communities which require property owners to 'subscribe' to fire protection - maybe that model would work for the Golf Courses?
Same with the other services provided to them as a result of other taxing bodies - schools - so we should work out a model for them to pay the share of value received from those taxing bodies...
Oh wait, we do - it's called 'PROPERTY TAX', so here we are, back at the beginning of the circle. Just assess them fairly, and let's move on.
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12:18 am on Friday, February 8, 2013
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Ted Sachs
8:36 am on Friday, March 29, 2013
No, not if they greatly go up. Clubs reduce demand on public services, reduce congestion, and are visually attractive. There are strong reasons for their exemptions.....why risk high taxes and reduced job opportunities?