CROWN POINT, Ind.  A northwest Indiana church is seeking an injunction to keep Lake County from auctioning off the church's $3.2 million banquet hall to settle back taxes, The Associated Press reported.
St. George Serbian Orthodox Church wants a retroactive nonprofit tax exemption for 2002 and 2001 for the hall, although it missed the deadline both years to apply for exempt status. The church also wants a tax exemption for this year.
The Lake County Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals denied the church's request for 2001 and 2002 exemptions in July. The church is appealing to the Indiana Board of Tax appeals and wants an injunction to halt the sale.
"We had to sue to stop the tax sale," St. George attorney David Austgen told reporters. "We are attempting to exhaust our administrative remedies to protect the exempt status of the church."
The church owes $277,199 in back taxes, the news service reported. If the sale is conducted, bidding would start at that amount.
