Strapped for cash, small Alaska town considers taxing churches.

Courtesy of KTUU:  

The Nome City Council is moving forward with a plan to end tax exemptions for 40 local nonprofits, churches and other charities in the Seward Peninsula city. 

With the city budget projected to run a deficit, the council spent a one-hour work session Monday looking at ways to increase tax revenue. After much debate, the council agreed to move forward with a draft ordinance removing sales tax exemptions from nonprofits and churches. 

City Finance Director Julie Liew estimates the move could bring in about $300,000 a year. Nome is a regional hub city of about 3,800 people. 

If the city council decides to go with this plan they still have to get public feedback first, and there will be several more meetings before it is adopted.  However if it is adopted I do believe it would make this small Alaska town the first to tax churches in their communities.

If this idea catches on there is no telling how far it could spread, or how much money it might brig in.

On that last point we actually do have some idea.

Yeah, it seems like an idea that absolutely SHOULD catch on, and catch on soon.

P.S. Since we're talking about Nome, Alaska did you know it got its name due to a clerical error?