Unfortunately, the headline used by the Mackinac Center to
describe this bill does not match the Center’s own description of the bill, and
so is somewhat misleading.
According to Mackinac Center’s summary, what would be
exempted by this legislation is “personal property” (tools and materials, etc.)
owned by a Masons Lodge, and not real estate. Further, the exemption would not apply to school taxes.
I think the latter only complicates the matter here. Either exempt the personal property
from all local taxes or none. I
oppose this bill as it stands because of that unnecessary complication. I also am inclined to endorse Gypsy's line of reasoning as to why this bill should not pass in any form.