1981: an overview: Tax crisis (12/27/81)

1981: an overview

Tax crisis

Making many headlines during the past year was the plight of the Ukrainian Institute of America which was threatened with losing its tax-exempt status - a scenario that endangered the very existence of the institute's landmark building on Fifth Avenue and 79th Street. The institute was among the thousands of groups that had been notified by New York City that their property tax exemptions would be reviewed.

On January 16, a group calling itself the Friends of the UIA was established to aid the institute in its fight against loss of its tax-exempt status. The Friends stated that their goals were to prevent the possible sale of the UIA building, to work toward the repeal of the real-estate tax levied on the UIA, to re-establish The Ukrainian Museum at the institute, broaden the institute's membership base and engage in fund-raising. The Friends also set up a fund to help the institute in the legal defense of its tax-free status. Somewhat suddenly and surprisingly, the group was disbanded in May, after it had raised thousands of dollars for the UIA. Meanwhile, new directors were elected to the UIA board, and the tax crisis continues.

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