Top 10 Non-Profits that Paid Most to City's PILOT Program

Non-profit organizations are not required to pay taxes on their property, but some do so thanks to Boston's Payment in Lieu of Taxes program, or PILOT.

The second fiscal year of the program ended on June 30, with Boston receiving $19.5 million in payments. But FY 2012 was the first year under new PILOT guidelines created by the City.

The guidelines ask for voluntary payments based on organization’s tax-exempt property value. The City asked 45 institutions with property valued at $15 million or more. Organizations are eligible for a "community benefits deduction," calculating institutions efforts to give back to the community through things such as scholarships, donations, events and programs. 

Locally, the Roxbury Latin School and Catholic Memorial School, were asked to contribute for FY '12. According to City of Boston statistics, neither school chose to participate in the PILOT program for FY '12.

Both schools contributed in the first year of the program. Roxbury Latin contributed $58,711, split equally between community benefits and a cash payment. Catholic Memorial contributed $2,721 in FY '11, split equally between community benefits and a cash payment.

Roxbury Latin did not respond for comment from Patch, while Catholic Memorial personnel chose to not comment on why they participating the first year in the program, but not the second.

Before the list of the Top 10 PILOT payers, check out some statistics provided by the City of Boston:

• The $19.5 million received for FY 2012 is 90.7% of the $21.5 million requested amount. 
• The City calculated organizations provided $21.9 million in community benefits for FY 2012. 
• In FY 2011, Boston received $15.1 million in cash and $2.3 million in community benefits. 

Top 10 PILOT Payers for Boston in FY 2012

Institution PILOT If Taxable Boston University $5,329,936 $57.6 million Mass General Hospital $3,508,707 $55.4 million Harvard University $2,121,894 $47.2 million Brigham and Womans Hospital $1,823,270 $20.5 million Tufts Medical Center $950,124 $17.6 million Northeastern University $886,000 $39.9 million Beth Israel Deaconess $752,948 $25.2 million Children's Hospital Boston $451,434 $20.5 million Suffolk University $390,000 $7 million Harvard Vanguard $309,511 $3.4 million

*If taxable amounts rounded. All statistics provided by the City of Boston.