Arizona Churches Leasing Space To Get Tax Breaks

By Stina Sieg
Published: Monday, March 23, 2015 - 5:27pm
Updated: Tuesday, March 24, 2015 - 7:37am

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey has signed a bill allowing property tax breaks for buildings leased by churches. Building owners are expected to pass those savings onto their tenants.

The Republican-backed bill gives churches that lease space the same type of tax break as churches that own buildings. But Democrats say House Bill 2128 gives churches lower rates the legislature doesn't offer to other nonprofits, such as domestic violence shelters.

The costs from the tax breaks will be passed on to other property owners in each county.

This bill has been supported by the conservative lobbying group Center for Arizona Policy. The same proposal was vetoed by former Gov. Jan Brewer last year.