Like in years previous, the District is giving tax exemptions to a variety of charitable, philanthropic and religious organizations, this year to the tune of $53,639.
Of that, only $8309 is for statutory exemptions. Those are organizations that are exempted from municipal taxes by a provincial law, in this case, places of worship.
There are only four of these in town: the Pentecostal Church, the Baptist Church, the Roman Catholic Church and the Seventh Day Adventist Church.
Other statutory exemptions don’t even show up in the role. These include the health centre, schools, and the cemetery.
In addition to these, there are 14 organizations that the District also grants tax exemptions to. These include the Tumbler Ridge Museum, who occupy the former Claude Galibois School, the Community Garden, Ridge Riders Snowmobile club, Saddle Club and Legion.
A number of the organizations have space in the Community Centre, including the Tumbler Ridge Municipal Library, Curling Club, Oldtimers, Minor Hockey, TR Youth Services Society, Arts Council and, new for this year, the YMCA, who are occupying the space previously occupied by the Children’s Centre.
Some of these are for small rooms and closets occupied by these organizations. For instance, minor hockey is being granted a $53.32 tax exemption for use of the ticket booth. Others are more substantial. The Museum is being granted just shy of $30,000 in tax exemptions for its two properties.
Tax exemptions like this are a way for Council to support organizations—mostly not-for-profit—in the community which enhance the quality of life for residents in town.
Council gave its first three readings to the bylaw on October 16.
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.
