According to former White House senior policy analyst Jeff Schweitzer, PhD, US churches own $300-$500 billion in un-taxed property. New York City alone loses $627 million in annual property tax revenue due to 9,500 churches being tax-exempt, according to a July 2011 analysis by New York's nonpartisan Independent Budget Office.
Billions of dollars are kept from the government every year because of this tax-exempt status. This money could be used to lower education expenses, lower the national debt, promote green energies, and so much more good things for this country. A tax exemption is a privilege, not a right and in these hard economic times it is time for everyone to do their fair share to help this country.