A case being considered by the state’s highest court could have a bearing on municipal and county budgets.
Currently, not-for-profit hospitals do not have to pay property taxes in Illinois, something which the medical providers say allows them to meet a community service mission.
The city of Urbana, among others, say that the hospitals make hefty profits, and some of that money should be returned in the form of property taxes.
According to the Chicago Tribune article, the hospitals argue: “… the 2012 state law allowing hospitals to be exempt if they provide charity equal in value to their property tax liabilities is unconstitutional. The state constitution only allows such exemptions if the property in question is used exclusively for charitable purposes.”
A decision from the state’s high court is expected in the coming months.
