TOWN OF POUGHKEEPSIE – The Appellate Division of the Second Judicial District of New York’s Supreme Court reversed a July 2023 Dutchess County Supreme Court decision that exempted the Germania Club of Poughkeepsie from paying taxes.

The decision stems from a 2022 lawsuit by Germania, with Town Councilman Bill Reuter as Germania president, that followed an appeal that was originally rejected. Before the ruling, Germania paid $11,079.68 for its 2023 town and county taxes and $14,548.24 for its 2022/2023 school taxes on its two Town of Poughkeepsie properties. Due to the Supreme Court ruling, Germania was exempt and did not pay taxes in 2024 or 2025.

Germania argued that it should not pay taxes because its property is used for German language courses, approximately five percent of the

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