Tax Change Could Sink Elder Care Facilities

United Methodist Elder Care is on the list.

According to City Manager Peter Graczykowski, 37 organizations could be removed from the city's tax exempt roll later this year, including the non-profit that operates East Providence's and .

United Methodist Elder Care is affiliated with the United Methodist Church, though only a fraction of their budget is funded by the church. 

Rob Bower, the non-profit's Board of Trustees' president, said a change in tax status could put the organization's finances into the red. City administrators valued its property at about $2.8 million. He estimates the non-profit could owe  $60,000 a year in taxes.

"We're on the edge," Bower said to council members during Tuesday's meeting, noting the $10 million tax exemption has not been adjusted since the '80s. 

He said the organization will petition for a change in state legislation to retain tax-exempt status. He asked councilors to support their cause and respect that United Methodist Elder Care is a religiously affiliated organization, comparative to the Catholic Church.

Councilor William Conley Jr. said his mother was cared for by the non-profit. 

"It's almost unfair to categorize what you do as a healthcare organization...You are much more...You provide a home for those most in need," he said.

Many of the organization's members attended the meeting.

City Manager Peter Graczykowski said there is an appeals process for those who dispute their tax status.

The bills have not been sent yet, as the tax roll has not been certified.

The following is a list of properties that could be removed from the city’s tax exempt roll later this year. This was the list as it was presented to the city council on Jan. 17, according to reports from East Bay Newspapers. Each entry includes the owner's name, location and new value of property.

• American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry 400 Massasoit Ave. 120,900
• American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry 400 Massasoit Ave. 120,900
• Barnabas Ministries 20 Rachella Court 342,500
• Big Brothers RI 3300 Pawtucket Ave. 679,600
• Blackstone Valley ARC 30 Elmwood Dr. 225,700
• Blackstone Valley ARC 130 Dover Ave. 258,200
• Boys and Girls Club of E Providence 125 Williams Ave. 28,800
• Brown Playschool 0 Newman Ave. 3,500 
• Brown Playschool 4 Newman Ave. 275,000
• Columbus Club of Barrington 3 Viola Ave. 316,600
• Columbus Club of E Providence 3200 Pawtucket Ave. 491,000
• Ditalia in America 99 Hicks St. 460,700
• EBCAP 386 Willett Ave. 744,600
• EBCAP 70 Turner Ave. 1,022,300
• Emma Pendleton Bradley 2 Farrell Place 358,900
• EP Boys & Girls Club 115 Williams Ave. 1,275,000
• Evangelical Covenant Church of Riverside 165 Rounds Ave. 79,800
• Fraternal Order of Eagles 334 Waterman Ave. 403,600
• Frontline Missions and Ministries 436 Pawtucket Ave. 256,400
• Grand Lodge of A H Free Masons 222 Taunton Ave. 2,254,800
• Heritage Trust RI 432 Massasoit Ave. 244,700
• Heritage Trust RI 432 Massasoit Ave. 359,200
• Lodge 2337 BPO Elks 60 Berkeley St. 310,600
• Providence Country Day School 0 Commercial Way 181,500
• Providence Country Day School 660 Waterman Ave. 2,360,500
• Radio Amateurs of SNE 54 Kelley St. 101,100
• RI Council Resource Providers for CF 0 South Brow St. 75,800
• RI Council Resource Providers for CF 55 South Brow St. 600,000
• RI Philharmonic 667 Waterman Ave. 6,895,800
• Riverside Post Holding 830 Willett Ave. 587,100
• Rumford Grange 125 North Broadway 458,300
• Self Help 138-140 North County St. 195,700
• Self Help 100 Bullocks Point Ave. 4,340,200
• St. Andrews Lodge 18 Turner Ave. 885,200
• Town of Seekonk 0 ZZ Seekonk Lions 92,900
• Trustees of Methodist Elder Care 0 Alexander Ave. 42,300
• Trustees of Methodist Elder Care 40 Irving Ave. 2,834,400