County officials investigated the Dove World Outreach Center after receiving an anonymous complaint the church was violating tax-exemption laws.
The anonymous tip sent to the Alachua Country Property Appraiser claimed the church wasn’t paying taxes on part of the building leased to TS & Company, a furniture business run by Dove World Outreach Center preachers Terry and Sylvia Jones.
Sheila Crapo, a property appraiser administrative analyst, said she investigated the church on Thursday, and the furniture business was leasing 1,700 square feet of the 9,000-square-foot church.
Crapo said the building could remain tax-exempt as long as its predominate use was for religious purposes.
In a statement issued by the church, the center said it was operating in accordance with the law according to its tax consultant.
The investigation was not related to the center’s sign declaring “No homo mayor” and an anti-gay YouTube video.