There are winners and losers when it comes to taxpayers’ assistance.
Vernon council approved tax exemptions for three properties Monday while others saw their requests for 2017 denied.
“There’s a policy and you have to follow set rules,” said Mayor Akbal Mund.
The Vernon and District Association for Community Living will receive a 100 per cent tax exemption for property on 16th Avenue, while there is also 100 per cent status for VDACL on 22nd Street. Both will be phased in over three years.
VDACL will also receive an exemption for land on 23rd Street, but the exemption has been reduced from 100 to 61 per cent to reflect how much of the property the organization actually owns.
An exemption request from the North Okanagan Child Care and Montessori Preschool Society was turned down because the city says it doesn’t provide a service different than other preschools that do not receive exemptions.
The North Valley Gymnastics Society’s application was also denied because it does not own the property and does not make tax payments to the city.
That decision didn’t go over well with Coun. Brian Quiring.
“While you don’t pay taxes directly to the city, it doesn’t mean you aren’t paying taxes (through rent),” said Quiring.
Council also denied the request from the Vernon Elks Club for a tax exemption because the city says the group did not provide a proportionate break-down between the non-profit component of its activities and the profit portion related to alcohol sales.
Council also did not support the category change from cultural to educational institute for the Vernon Community Music School and a request from the group for 100 per cent exemption was defeated.