The List: How Much Property in Bar Harbor Is Tax Exempt?
We've compiled the data
BAR HARBOR—Budget season always seems to spur conversations about nonprofits and the potential property taxes that they do not pay. Nonprofits have the legal option not to pay property taxes unless the property is used for certain purposes. It is not an automatic process and applications must be completed to gain the exempt status. Here is the State of Maine statute regarding the property of institutions and organizations that is exempt from taxation.
According to Town Assessor Steve Weed, the total taxable real estate value in 2022 for the Town of Bar Harbor was $2,119,689,500. Adding in the tax-exempt properties, that value goes up to $3,179,640,200. That means the Town of Bar Harbor has approximately $1,059,590,700 of property value that is claimed as tax exempt.
The Bar Harbor Story has compiled a list of all of the exempt properties and associated property taxes in the Town of Bar Harbor from the town’s exempt property owners list. With the exception of the Mount Desert YMCA and Kids’ Corner, the only properties not listed are those actually owned by the town.
These numbers are calculated from the 2023 tax year and are subject to change every year due to improvements, new property purchases, or sales of property. There are no forensic accountants employed by the Bar Harbor Story, and while there may be a few small errors in calculation, the numbers are for the most part accurate.
Some property taxes for properties owned by nonprofits are paid. The Bar Harbor Story did not try to distinguish whether some nonprofit property taxes are paid because those properties fall outside of exempt categories or for other reasons, deeming it not relevant to this article.
Each property is listed by the name of the nonprofit, followed by the total property taxes based on the value of properties owned by that entity, the property taxes paid by that entity (may be multiple properties), any payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) voluntarily paid to the town by that entity, and the unpaid tax value after subtracting taxes paid and PILOTs from the original value.
The Maine Association of Nonprofits says about nonprofits, “Scratch the surface of why people love Maine and you’ll find a strong network of nonprofit organizations delivering on their mission. Every day, Mainers rely on nonprofits to nurture our spirits, protect our environment, inform our government, educate our children, and drive our economy—all while also investing significant financial and human resources throughout the state. They are integral to every facet of our communities.”
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK
$6,750,328.70 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 42,454.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$6,707,874.70 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
JACKSON LABORATORY
$603,704.87 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 74,293.45 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$112,409.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$417,002.42 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
MOUNT DESERT ISLAND HOSPITAL
$392,273.20 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 12,857.87 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$379,415.33 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
COLLEGE OF THE ATLANTIC
$375,132.81 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 53,316.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 8,500.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
_______________
$313,316.81 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
MAINE COAST HERITAGE TRUST
$135,776.57 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 1,674.81 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 6,325.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$127,776.76 REMAINING POTENTIAL TAXES
MDI REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
$169,114.20 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$169,114.20 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
BAR HARBOR HOUSING AUTHORITY
$132,917.18 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 34,790.35 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
________________
$ 98,126.83 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
MDI BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY
$132,917.18 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 10,000.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
________________
$ 122,917.18 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
BAR HARBOR HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$59,680.62 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$59,680.62 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
NATURE CONSERVANCY OF MAINE
$64,020.02 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 6,882.82 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$57,137.20 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
ABBE MUSEUM
$36,517.62 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWNB
______________
$36,517.62 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
ST. SAVIOURS CHURCH
$34,044.12 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 1,000.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$33,044.12 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
$32,738.37 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 3,745.71 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$28,992.66 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF BAR HARBOR
$30,276.95 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 5,350.61 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$24,926.34 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
JESUP MEMORIAL LIBRARY
$22,174.15 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$22,174.15 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
FRANKLIN H. EPSTEIN
$21,504.04 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$21,504.04 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
YWCA OF MOUNT DESERT ISLAND
$17,485.25 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 3,062.25 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$14,423.00 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
DOWNEAST HORIZONS
$13,853.25 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$13,853.25 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF BAR HARBOR
$18,528.16 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 6,647.02 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$11,881.14 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
WEST EDEN VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY
$11,088.01 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$11,088.01 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
CHURCH OF OUR FATHER
$10,949.14 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$10,949.14 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
BAR HARBOR VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION
$ 9,840.99 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
_______________
$ 9,840.99 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
AMERICAN LEGION POST
$9,379.65 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$9,379.65 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
OCEANARIUM AND EDUCATION CENTER
$8,957.45 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$8,957.45 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
BAR HARBOR CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
$8,806.47 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$8,806.47 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
BAPTIST CHURCH OF SALISBURY COVE
$8,617.27 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$8,617.27 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
STATE OF MAINE
$8,599.56 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$8,599.56 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
PENTECOSTAL LIGHTHOUSE CHURCH
$6,404.70 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$6,404.70 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$ 00.00 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
WILLOWIND THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER
$6,199.66 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$6,199.66 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
BAR HARBOR YACHT CLUB
$6,099.94 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$6,099.94 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
DOWNEAST AUDUBON CHAPTER
$5,667.49 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$5,667.49 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
EDEN BAPTIST CHURCH
$5,505.32 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$5,505.32 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
BEATRIX FARRAND SOCIETY
$4,836.15 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$4,836.15 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
HULLS COVE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
$4,078.43 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$4,078.43 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
KNOX DISTRICT HOUSING
$3,476.36 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$3,476.36 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
ISLAND HOUSING TRUST
$13,718.11 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$13,718.11 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
BIRCH BAY RETIREMENT VILLAGE
$2,115.64 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$2,115.64 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
LEDGELAWN CEMETERY ASSOCIATION
$2,027.10 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$2,027.10 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
MOUNTAIN VIEW CEMETERY
$1,687.85 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$1,687.85 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
ARTWAVES
$4,872.50 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$3,317.92 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$1,554.58 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
HADLEY POINT CEMETERY ASSOCIATION
$1,339.28 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$1,339.28 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE
$868.62 TOTAL POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
$ 00.00 PROPERTY TAXES PAID
$ 00.00 PILOT PAID TO TOWN
______________
$868.62 REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES
TOTAL REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES WITHOUT ACADIA NATIONAL PARK
$2,087,216.74
TOTAL REMAINING POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES WITH ACADIA NATIONAL PARK (ACADIA NATIONAL PARK INCLUDES PROPERTIES OWNED BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. SOME OF THOSE PROPERTIES ARE NOT PART OF THE PARK, SUCH AS THE POST OFFICE ON COTTAGE STREET)
$8,795,091.44
The Mount Desert YMCA and Kids’ Corner are both nonprofits that exist on land owned by the Town of Bar Harbor, therefore, they have no property tax burden. Kids’ Corner leases the land and building from the town for an annually escalating amount set in a 15-year lease signed April 4, 2017. According to the lease, the amount for 2022 was $7,800. The YMCA financed the construction of the building that it occupies and pays an annual amount of $1 set in a 99-year lease that was signed October 18, 1994.
TAX VALUE OF THE YMCA PARCEL (INCLUDING YMCA-OWNED BUIDLING) ON PARK STREET
$75,334.49
TAX VALUE OF THE KIDS’ CORNER PARCEL (INCLUDING TOWN-OWNED BUILDING) AT THE CORNER OF EDEN STREET AND MOUNT DESERT STREET
$7,737.46
A note about the Island Housing Trust properties: All of the exempt properties listed for the organization are part of the new Jones Marsh community. As the housing units are sold or leased, those parcels will lose their exempt status and be placed back on the paid tax roll.
Here’s a link to learn more about what is a nonprofit.
Here’s a bit more about payments in lieu of taxes, which are voluntary payments. A town cannot require them. The federal government program is here.
 | A guest post by
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Just as an example.
The Bar Harbor Historical Society (not the most astute preservationists of material heritage) moved to a huge mansion on a waterfront lot. They charge a hefty entrance fee. And the movers and shakers trade in social cache on their association. They should pay taxes.
And then the churches. The Roman Catholic Church has been instrumental in breaking down the constitutional barrier between church and state. OK that should mean they now should pay taxes.
Yacht Club? Seriously?
Birch Bay? Have you looked at their fees?
I hate to be the bearer of bad news Bar Harbor but you ain't seen nothing yet! Back when I was still running my custom boat tours I had a middle aged couple aboard and we discussed the majors their two kids were pursuing in college. The son was working on a degree in law and the daughter was working on degree in "non profits". I thought they were joking about the daughter and laughed. The husband seemed upset by my laughter and blurted out "Nonprofits are the wave of the future in America!" To which I replied, "When nonprofits become the wave of our future our future is not looking bright!" Back when I was still running the Coastal Maine Bald Eagle Project I funded my activities by working for 18 years as a stock clerk at Don's Shop 'n Save. When folks urged me to become a nonprofit I checked out the potential of doing so. Having ordered a copy of the 800 page Environmental Grant Index I spent hours pouring over the hundreds of corporate grants being offered to nonprofit environmental groups. Didn't take long to figure out the whole thing is nothing more than a tax scam. Corporation after corporation clearly indicated that they wanted nothing to do with any group actually trying to accomplish anything.. "Advocacy" was in their opinion a swear word. Groups they supported were engaged in such cutting edge environmental work as building walking paths in downtown Freeport. At least partly due to the presence of COA Mount Desert Island has the crosshairs of non profits right smack in the middle of its forehead. Lovely scenery, great places to hike, bike, and boat, relatively cheap housing and real estate (compared to where they come from) and lots of folks who think "Nonprofits are the wave of the American Future!" Good luck Bar Harbor!