The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center has become a target for Allegheny County officials, as county leaders are looking to bring in additional revenue from property taxes and plan to re-examine the tax-exempt statuses of UPMC and other non-profits, according to a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette report.
Allegheny County officials said they could bring in $95 million more in property taxes per year if all local non-profits paid their share. Natalia Rudiak, a councilwoman for the Pittsburgh City Council, said in the report that UPMC in particular pays almost nothing in property taxes.
In response, UPMC said the health system provided $565 million in charity care and other charitable programs in 2011, and UPMC's annual impact is estimated to be around $21.5 billion.
Non-profit hospitals and property taxes have made headlines in the past year after Illinois threatened to strip the tax-exempt status of several non-profit hospitals in the state. Since then, Illinois has finalized guidelines linking amount of charity care provided to the value of potential property taxes.
Allegheny County officials said they could bring in $95 million more in property taxes per year if all local non-profits paid their share. Natalia Rudiak, a councilwoman for the Pittsburgh City Council, said in the report that UPMC in particular pays almost nothing in property taxes.
In response, UPMC said the health system provided $565 million in charity care and other charitable programs in 2011, and UPMC's annual impact is estimated to be around $21.5 billion.
Non-profit hospitals and property taxes have made headlines in the past year after Illinois threatened to strip the tax-exempt status of several non-profit hospitals in the state. Since then, Illinois has finalized guidelines linking amount of charity care provided to the value of potential property taxes.
More Articles on Hospitals and Property Taxes:
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn Signs Medicaid, Hospital Tax-Exemption Laws
Illinois Set to Finalize New Charity Care, Tax Exemption Regulations for Hospitals
Fitch: Property Taxes Would Afflict Illinois Non-Profit Hospital Ratings