Ocean Grove loses tax break over civil unions

Welcome to Ocean Grove?

The Manchester Inn is steps from the ocean.

Ocean Grove, where many ex-Plainfielders have bought homes, figures in the news again today in the Association's attempt to prevent civil union ceremonies at its boardwalk pavilion.

According to reports in both the Ledger and the NY Times today, the Methodist Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association has lost its Green Acres tax exemption for the pavilion in an action by the state's DEP commissioner, Lisa P. Jackson.

Her action does not, however, simplify matters.

The Methodist-owned Association is not a municipality, but a part of Neptune Township, and the tax assessor there says that a portion of a lot (the boardwalk is all in one real estate lot) cannot be separated out for special tax treatment. So, in Neptune's eyes, either it is ALL taxable or it is not.

That's just one issue.

On the other hand, the dispute between gays wanting civil unions performed in the pavilion and the Camp Meeting Association is complicated by the filing of civil rights complaints with the state by gays and a federal suit filed by the Camp Meeting Association.

It's gonna be a hot time down the Shore for some time to come!

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• Ledger: "State pulls association's tax-exempt status"
• NY Times: "Group Loses Tax Break Over Gay Union Issue"

-- Dan Damon

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