LVHN

In a story in the Jan. 23 edition of The Press, Salisbury Township School District is challenging the Lehigh Valley Health Network’s tax-exempt status in a lawsuit filed Jan. 9.

In an action filed in the Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County, the district is arguing Lehigh Valley Hospital should be ordered to pay its “fair share” of taxes.

According to the new tax exemption appeal the district filed, the hospital does not meet the constitutional requirements set forth by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court necessary to show that it is a “purely public charity.”

Brian Downs, public information officer, Lehigh Valley Health Network, provided the following statement regarding the appeal.

“We intend to vigorously defend the matter. It is important to point out that this is an appeal of a decision of the tax assessment appeals board which found in LVHN’s favor.

“We believe the health network fulfills its charitable mission including improving health care, advancing medical science and providing education.

“We feel Judge Brian Johnson’s decision in June 2016 related to the handling of our charitable assets bolsters this point.”