REQUEST FOR DECISION
DATE: September 20, 2017 Report No. FIN-17-019
TO: Laurie Hurst, Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Ian Irvine, Director of Financial Services
SUBJECT:
Title
2018 Permissive Tax Exemptions
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RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That Council give first, second and third readings to the Tax Exemption (Non-Profit Organizations) Bylaw, 2017, No.2907
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RELEVANT POLICY:
Council Policy FIN-16 Permissive Tax Exemptions
Community Charter S.224
STRATEGIC RELEVANCE:
This decision does not directly relate to any specific strategic objective.
BACKGROUND:
Section 224 of the Community Charter gives Council the authority to grant permissive exemptions from property taxes for periods of up to 10 years. Council must adopt a bylaw and, prior to its adoption, ensure notification of the proposed exemptions is posted on the public notice board and advertised during two consecutive weeks within a newspaper circulating within the municipality.
On September 12, 2017 the Local Grant Committee made recommendations relating to the 2018 permissive tax exemptions, for approval by Council. These recommendations have been incorporated into the bylaw attached to this staff report. Additionally, public notice of the intention to adopt the bylaw will be published in the Victoria News. A copy of this year's public notice is attached for your information. Once adopted, this bylaw must be provided to the BC Assessment Authority in advance of its October 31, 2017 deadline.
ISSUES:
1. Rationale for Selected Option
A total of 14 permissive tax exemption applications were received in advance of the August 31, 2017 deadline. While the Council Policy criteria state that none of applicants were required to attend the meeting, three representatives did appear to speak to the Committee if requested.
The following not-for-profit organizations made permissive tax exemption applications and the Local Grant Committee has recommended the approval of a 100% exemp...
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