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09- 11 -'13 16;57 FROM -NCCU BUSINESS SCHOOL 9195306050 <br />FILED <br />September 3, 2013 <br />Board of Commissioners <br />SEP 12 2013 <br />ORANGE COUNTY <br />TAX ADMINISTRATION <br />Orange County in North Carolina, Hillsborough, NC <br />T -321 F0002/0002 F -487 <br />4 <br />Submitted Through: Ms. !Candice Wright <br />Ref: Parcel Number 9844943550; Tax Bill # 0000180316- 2013 - 2013 - 0000 -00 <br />Dear Esteemed members of the Board of Commissioners: <br />America Saraswata Sangha is a federally sanctioned 501 c (3) non - profit recognized by IRS as a <br />church /religious entity. Further, we are incorporated in North Carolina as a non - profit <br />organization. We are a non- sectarian, non - denominational, membership -based spiritual <br />organization whose purpose is to help establish and spread eternal religion. Our goal is to be <br />and help others become good human beings. Membership in this organization is open to all <br />irrespective of gender, ethnicity, language, religion, or country of origin. <br />We chose to locate at Efland in Orange County as we were warmly welcomed by the county <br />officials and felt at home given the area's friendliness and its rich diversity. We purchased the <br />piece of property at 3514 West Ten Road on August 2014, 2010 and used the tree - filled land to <br />periodically meet for prayer meetings even without a building. We Completed construction of <br />the prayer retreat towards the end July 2012. We have since met regularly every weekend and <br />at select other times, to conduct our church /temple service. We had applied for exemption <br />from county real- estate tax as a church late during the 2012 tax year. But we were told that <br />since the building construction was completed in July we will have to wait for the tax year 2013 <br />to qualify for the real estate tax exemption. We were just not aware that we will have to apply <br />again and will have to do so during the month of January. This was an inadvertent and <br />unintended error on our part for which we beg for forgiveness and also request exemption. <br />There is a significant difference between the tax burden which we could absorb last year with <br />great difficulty given we had just completed new construction. The present tax amount will <br />cripple our finances (given the existing large mortgage payment) and detract us for the purpose <br />for which this retreat was built. Your kind consideration of our appeal for exemption is our <br />prayer today. We will again remain grateful to you and to Orange County for your friendliness, <br />understanding, and many generous accommodations. Again, thank you. <br />With kindest regards, <br />Bijoy K. Sahoo, Ph.D. <br />President, America Saraswata Sangha <br />1040 Jayaguru Lane, <br />Efland, NC 27242 <br />(919) 819 6995 <br />bi ioysahoo@yahoo.com <br />Professor, NCCU <br />1015undance Place <br />Chapel Hill, NC 27514 <br />(919) 768 0403 <br />