Reading City Council hears request for tax exoneration for Buddhist temple | Reading Area

READING, Pa. – Reading City Council, at its Committee of the Whole meeting Monday, heard a request for a tax exoneration of $14,408 for 2024 property taxes on a former church at 139 S. Fifth St.

The property — which formerly housed the St. James Community Christian Center — was purchased by the Sakyamuni Buddhist Sangha of U.S. in 2024 for use as Dharma Cloud Meditation Temple.

The organization was founded by His Honorable Thich Giac Chinh who told council the temple was not prepared to receive a property tax bill from the city since the organization is a religious nonprofit.

An attorney representing the temple explained there was no transfer tax when the property was sold because it was from one exempt religious institution to another. 

The temple officials were not aware that the new owner had to apply for an exemption of the property tax, the attorney said.

The temple applied for the exemption and had it granted beginning with the year 2025,  but now has to ask the city to exonerate the taxes for 2024.

The Reading School District has already approved the exoneration, and the county said it will consider the matter after the city approves the request.

The attorney said the historical building dates to sometime in the middle or late 1800s and that the temple has engaged in renovations to prevent the building from falling into disrepair.

Councilmember Raymond Baker asked about the historical nature of the building.

“We value new light coming into our city as well as people practicing [religion] as they as they see fit, as is their right under our constitution,” Baker said. “This are two different religions and two different architectural styles. I can understand wanting to make changes, but as it relates to the architecture and the structure, are there any intended changes that would be made to alter the structure for its historical architectural value?”

Thich Giac Chinh said there have been alterations to the interior of the former church and that any renovations to the exterior would comply with city regulations and ordinances.

Council will vote on the exoneration at the next voting meeting.

Baker suggested that Thich Giac Chinh be invited in the future to offer the invocation at the start of a regular voting meeting.

Invocations are offered at all voting meetings by clergy and pastors from city churches and religious institutions.