Statement regarding ruling
Following an oral ruling Nov. 30 by the San Francisco Transfer Tax Appeals Board (composed of the city controller, the city real estate director, and the city tax collector), which supported a contention made by the San Francisco Assessor-Recorder regarding an Archdiocesan intra-church property transfer, the Archdiocese of San Francisco released the following statement:
Statement by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco
Regarding Transfer Tax Appeal
In view of the fact that the law pertaining to this intra-church property transfer matter is overwhelmingly in favor of the Archdiocese we are obviously disappointed that the City’s Transfer Tax Appeals Board did not follow the law. The Board members, all of whom are City Hall administrators rather than members of the judiciary, apparently faced a tremendous amount of pressure in view of the City’s desperate need for revenue.
More than 19 months have gone by since we first presented a straightforward transaction for recordation by City Recorder Phil Ting’s office and were met with inexcusable delays, and at times, arrogance. Therefore, we are glad that having exhausted the required administrative process we can finally proceed to a formal, neutral civil court forum. We trust that the civil court will carefully consider the applicable law, devoid of the sensationalism and politics that the Archdiocese thus far has faced.
