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For earlier materials see Table of Contents

PR City Hall	Tax exemptions
	Needs public scrutiny

Rushed though with little discussion – there was a party Council wanted to attend --- so left off talking about the details until final reading

Due Diligence or Grandfathering (see below)

What is the rationale behind these selections, which amount to million+ dollars?
(295T$ Skeena pulp mill tax exemption not mentioned in newspaper ad)

The City published partial list in newspapers from which I have copied the image below

Rationale: That’s what we did last year

There are some potential alarm bells here ---- first all the properties owned by church groups not included --- some involve schools etc --- implications are that any private school would get tax exemption So does that by extension mean any Day Care would get exemption?? We See that at least one Day Care has --- What about the others What is rationale for Curling Rink, Golf Course, and Rod & Gun Club being exempted?? Perhaps ‘Grandfathering’ see below

	Heritage Committee???
	The documents say the Heritage Committee ‘owns’ this building Granted it is a Heritage Site – but why would a PR City appointed committee that has not met in years ‘own’ this building? And who ‘owns’ the Bread & Breakfast + Beauty Salon? Clarification needed here

‘Grandfathering’ or Some people are more important than others

I have been told that this business was approached by a previous city CEO and told it would have to pay for use of the public’s sidewalk like other businesses do No Way A stink was made – and City chose to ignore this infraction, ‘agreeing’ to ‘grandfather’ it, I was told --- I might mention the party some Councillors were going to the night the Tax exemptions’ passed was related to this owner (so I was told) So how many of the tax exemptions have ‘merit’ and how many are simply ‘grandfathering’/ inertia/ ‘powerful people’

What public service does Rod & Gun Club or Curling provide?	Bottom Line
	Much of the seeming ‘inertia’ is result of lack staff etc to do the paperwork. Still one would expect the ‘grandfathering’ to end --- I suggest that each and every year a tax exemption only be given after it is applied for – and rationale for the exemption be included by the entity seeking the exemption Paperwork it is--- but it is also public’s $$$

Created by LG on Oct 17, 2006

Last updated on Tuesday, October 17, 2006