READING, Pa. – Reading City Council at its Committee of the Whole meeting Monday heard a request from representatives of Iglesia Pentecostal Un Nuevo Comienzo Inc., asking council to exonerate outstanding city property taxes from 2024 and 2025.
Attorney Stephen Welz, representing the church, explained that Iglesia Pentecostal purchased the former Grace Lutheran Church building at 45 S. 11th St., as well as its accessory properties at: 43 S. 11th St., 33 11th St., 1116 Little Cherry St., 22 Little Wunder St., 1128 Little Cherry St. and 1146 Perkiomen Ave.
Welz said that even though the properties were transferred from one tax-exempt entity to another, the tax exemption did not automatically transfer.
While the church has now been approved for tax exemption, it still had to deal with the property taxes from 2024 and 2025.
Welz said Pastor Luis Santos and his congregation acquired all the properties to use for its expanding ministries.
When questioned by council, Santos said there is no plan to sell any of the properties belonging to the church.
Later in the evening, during the regular council meeting, council voted to approve a resolution to exonerate the taxes.
The resolution stated that the city was exonerating $71,044, but council Solicitor Michael Gombar said he believed that number was inaccurate as it may have included all property taxes, including the school taxes.